Nutrients & more...

image Do you know that if we flip the word "desserts" it reads as "stressed"?!  While we may reach out to sweet foods in need of comfort, it has detrimental effects on our bodies. New studies have found that sugar affects not only our body, but also our minds.  Sugar is more addictive than drugs. And just like drug consumption a person may not have much control over it. But why is it so? The reward response In humans, sweet foods activate regions of the brain associated with the reward response and provoke more intense feelings of hunger than other foods. Foods that cause a higher elevation in blood glucose (aka sweets, fizzy drinks, energy bars, etc.) produce a larger addictive drive in the brain. A typical sweet eater's anxiety, despair, and irritability may increase if they abruptly cut out sweets from their diet. The symptoms of sugar and sweets withdrawal can be similar to those of withdrawal from other stimulants. Mood regulation Sugar makes dopamine(happy...

After delivery many new mothers have to deal with 'baby blues'. New mothers feel sad, anxious, irritable and weepy during this period. The hormones of a woman are stabilizing themselves and its natural to feel a little overwhelmed. Psychological support and help are needed by the mother to overcome these blues. image When this anxiety period lasts for more than 2 weeks , It develops into 'post partum depression' and you might need professional help. Post-partum depression - How diet can help? Though much is to be learned about postpartum depression, there are a few nutrients which have been found to help in overcoming PPD in new mothers. ·          Riboflavin- it’s also known as vit. B2. It is part of the b-complex vitamins. The Osaka maternal and child health study conducted in Japan on more than 800 women observed that riboflavin intake helped in post partum depression. Eggs, salmon, tofu, avocado, milk, mushrooms, spi...