Dr. Uma's Mood Foods

Hi ,

Are you looking for ways to naturally boost your mood and emotional wellbeing? Are you interested in making healthy choices now that will benefit your health in the future?

Nutritional Psychiatry focuses not only on how specific foods help improve our mood and reduce stress, but also how we can use food to impact our cognitive ability and memory as we age.

Simple adjustments can slowly but steadily become habits you can incorporate for the rest of your life in order to create lasting mental fitness. Each week, I’ll share recommendations here using foods you can add to your diet to support your mental health.

I love bringing you the latest in Nutritional Psychiatry each week to boost your overall well-being. My new book, Calm Your Mind with Food is a revolutionary full-body approach to relieving anxiety, including anti-anxiety recipes and meal plan guidelines.

Mood: Insomnia
Food: Chickpeas

Research has shown that chickpeas can help calm the mind because…

They naturally contain tryptophan, the amino acid precursor for melatonin which helps individuals fall asleep and stay asleep.

Chickpeas are high in fiber, which support gut health and reduced neuro-inflammation and helps to promote a sense of calm to wind down at night.

They are also a source of complex carbohydrates, which can increase serotonin production for a restful night's sleep.

How to add this MOOD FOOD to your diet:
Chickpeas are a versatile legume that can add both protein and plant fiber to the diet. Once cooked, they can be eaten as is and added to a leafy green salad, roasted veggies, or roasted on their own in avocado oil for a crunchy snack!

In the winter, I love preparing a large pot of nourishing soup or stew with a variety of veggies, herbs, spices and legumes like chickpeas. They are also the base for hummus, which can make for a delicious homemade dip. Check out my recipe for tofu made from chickpea flour on page 236 of my new book, Calm your Mind with Food.

How to buy chickpeas:
Chickpeas are typically an accessible and affordable food item that can be found in most grocery stores and markets. They can be purchased dried which require pressure cooking, or already cooked and canned! It is common to find them labeled as ‘garbanzo beans,’ which is a specific variety of chickpea. I recommend looking for BPA free canning if you opt for this version, as this chemical found in the lining of some cans is a noted neurotoxin.

Wishing you a joyful & calm week,
Dr. Uma Naidoo, MD

Well+Good: Eating foods that decrease gut inflammation is an effective way to boost your mood! Learn more here.

Keeping It Real with Jillian Michaels: Check out this podcast where I talk with Jillian Michaels about the worst offending foods and added ingredients that exacerbate anxiety and depression, as well as the most powerful foods and nutrients to optimize focus, contentment, and calm. Plus, top foods to boost libido!

5 Anti-Inflammatory Foods To Eat For A Younger, Healthier Brain: This week on mindbodygreen, take a look at this list of the top five "anti-aging" foods I recommend to help protect your brain from damage over time.

Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta: I join CNN’s Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta on his podcast to talk about how to build a strong brain and keep it sharp. Listen in here