Foods for Peace of Mind

Inside your brain is a tiny pair of organs called amygdalae. Your amygdalae are responsible for managing your emotions and mood, which can affect the frequency of your herpes outbreaks. Imagine, if you would, that your amygdalae are a lot like two small fish, and your brain is their fishbowl. If you have ever owned an aquarium, you know that you must condition the aquarium water with a healthy water conditioner to maintain a balanced pH level. The same applies to your brain's ability to experience peace and calm. Eating foods for peace of mind can help.

 

 

Healthy Fats for a Calm Brain

 

The conditioner to put in your brain is a healthy fat. Without adding healthy fats to your diet, you will not experience inner calm or peace of mind. Instead, you will likely experience fatigue, irritability, sadness, and hypersensitivity (FISH). Hypersensitivity includes pain symptoms (and apprehension), and healthy fats are known to reduce pain. 

 

Certain fats are terrible for your amygdalae. It is essential to avoid fake fats and trans fats. When you eat these fats, the receptors in your brain shut down fatty acid receptors and suppress cell membrane function. The result is fatigue, irritability, anxiety, panic, depression, and pain. No-fat and low-fat diets are equally bad for your amygdalae. 

 

So, what type of fat do the amygdalae need to stay calm but mentally alert and peaceful simultaneously? The amygdalae need omega-3s. But it's not just your amygdalae that need them. It's your entire brain.

 

The following is a list of foods rich in healthy fats and superfoods that support brain health. 

 

  • Fresh, fatty, wild-caught fish (salmon, Atlantic mackerel, sardines, black cod, anchovies, oysters, and rainbow trout) 
  • Lean, red meat
  • Eggs
  • Coconut oil
  • Walnuts and other nuts
  • Seeds, such as pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and ground flaxseeds
  • Avocados
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apples, bananas, kiwi, fresh berries (particularly blueberries and goji), citrus fruits (oranges and grapefruit), tart cherries, cucumbers, dark leafy greens, carrots, and broccoli, are suitable for the brain. You should eat fruits with some protein to keep your blood sugar stable. 
  • Green tea (perhaps not if you suffer from bladder pain)
  • Peppermint tea (but not if you struggle with acid reflux or have heart problems)
  • Milk (contains protein and vitamin D)
  • Cacao nibs and dark chocolate
  • Coffee (one cup per day)
  • Turmeric tea (with a pinch of black pepper to make it more bioavailable). You'll find a truly delicious recipe here.
  • Water (dividing your body weight by two equals how many ounces of water you need to stay hydrated each day)

 

If you avoid meat or are a vegetarian, ensure you get your daily fat servings in other ways, such as taking fish, krill, and squid oils. Your inner fish will love you for it. Also, if you follow a Keto or an Atkins diet, eat only "healthy" fats. ​

 

 

Tryptophan & Serotonin for Mental Calm

 

Tryptophan is an amino acid that converts to serotonin in the body. Serotonin is a "feel-good" neurotransmitter primarily required in the brain and the gut (the two minds of the body) to maintain a balanced mood. Serotonin deficiency causes mood and mental disorders, including nervousness, anxiety, irritability, anger, sadness, depression, and phobias. 

 

Some foods high in tryptophan are bananas, chicken, fatty fish, kiwis, legumes, nuts, oysters, peanuts, turkey, and teas, such as chamomile or passionflower.

 

 

Prebiotics for Better Digestion & Calm

 

When digestion is off, it can cause moodiness, anxiety, depression, and poor sleep. I discuss digestion elsewhere on-site, so I won't elaborate here, except to say that prebiotics can help settle a nervous stomach and promote a sense of calm. However, if you have Histamine Intolerance, please take the right ones. Many probiotics increase histamine load, and having more than 1-3 billion of any one bacteria is not necessary or beneficial. Spore probiotics are best, especially if you have problems with histamine. 

 

Probiotic formulas replace bacteria in the gut, whereas prebiotic formulas feed your healthy bacteria and assist them in repopulating themselves. You can take prebiotic and probiotic supplements. Or you can eat foods such as apples (pectin), asparagus, bananas (less ripe), barley, chicory root tea, dandelion greens, flaxseeds, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, oats, and onions.

 

 

Melatonin for a Calm Night's Sleep

 

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin levels typically increase at night as darkness falls and decrease in the morning as daylight returns. When people struggle to fall asleep or feel rested, they may consider purchasing melatonin supplements. However, melatonin can't help sleep disorders like sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or severe, long-term insomnia. Here's the thing. Most melatonin supplements peak three to four hours after being taken and may leave you awake for the rest of the night. If you're taking melatonin, consider taking a delayed-release supplement and allow yourself enough time to sleep. Some say melatonin can also help to ease bladder pain. 

 

I don't suggest taking melatonin because there can be side effects when used long-term, including a hangover effect. It can also cause headaches, moodiness, disorientation, drowsiness, and nausea. Additionally, melatonin supplements can interact with various medications, including immunosuppressants, blood sugar medications, prescription contraceptives, anticonvulsants, and medications for blood disorders. Instead, see Getting a Good Night's Sleep. 

 

Instead, avoid bright lights, including cell phones and computer screens, for at least two hours before bed, and opt for foods that naturally promote the production of melatonin. Some foods high in melatonin are eggs, fish, milk, oats, goji berries, grapes, pistachios, mushrooms, corn, and rice.