Holiday Mood and Energy Balance

Take advantage of the long weekend to recharge and relax by picking the right foods to keep you balanced the whole weekend and ready to go to work Tuesday morning!

• Start your day with a glass of green tea (decaf preferably), iced or hot. The high acid and caffeine content of coffee takes your blood sugars, mood, and energy on a roller coaster. Green tea, on the other hand, contains the amino acid l-theanine, which has a calming effect.
• Choose a high protein food, such as low fat Greek yogurt, as part of a balanced breakfast. The protein helps with the production of mood balancing dopamine, providing you with long-lasting energy for trips to the beach, barbecues, and yard work during the holiday weekend. An extra perk - the protein also helps keep you full so you don't spend your evening standing by the appetizer table at the Memorial Day BBQ.
• Take a break mid-afternoon for a pick-me-up snack. Our natural circadian rhythms cause a lull in energy during this time, but a little help from complex carbohydrates will boost the production of serotonin and get you ready for the evening activities. Try a small naval orange, which is in season and packed with immune building, stress fighting vitamin C. Pair the orange with a handful of raw walnuts or almonds for some omega-3 fatty acids, just what your brain needs to balance the highs and lows of your mood.
• Grill some chicken and add it to a bunch of leafy greens. Sub out a high-calorie, fat-loaded BBQ meal for kale and spinach marinated in lemon juice and sesame oil. The magnesium in the greens will help balance electrolytes during a hot weekend, and the B vitamins help convert your food into energy. Use the same marinade for the chicken to prevent the cancer causing heterocyclic amines from developing as you grill.
• Lounge after dinner with some sparkling water and fresh mint. Alcohol can interfere with your adenosine receptors, making it difficult for your body to truly relax. Adult beverages also disrupt sleep patterns, throwing your hormone cycle off and making Tuesday morning a real struggle.

If you find your mood is hard to balance through diet and lifestyle choices, consider using some amino acid supplements. Amino acids are precursors for serotonin, dopamine, and other mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters. Melissa and Elizabeth can help you find the right combination of supplements to keep you balanced and happy!