Bolstering a Bluesy Day
We all have them from time to time, and they are frankly the worst. The Blues. Sometimes they happen for a day and magically disappear, other times they stay with us for longer. Of course, if you have long-term feelings of sadness it’s important to see your doctor and get more help right away. But often there are little things we can do to make a big difference in our moods.
Lifestyle Check!
Our top two mood boosters at Little Green are exercise and nature. Moving and sweating is key to increasing happy hormones and flushing toxins that can weigh us down, but being outside is also one of the greatest mood enhancers science has found. Being near trees and plants and birds…on a sunny day OR a rainy one. The Norwegians like to say, “there is no such thing as bad weather–only bad clothes.” So dress accordingly and get outside!
Also, do whatever you can to make sure you are sleeping soundly. If you need a sleep supplement, my favorite is Hilma Sleep Support, which contains magnesium, L-Theanine, Reishi mushrooms, and passionflower.
Spending time with friends, family and pets can increase our oxytocin (our happy hormone that makes us calm and reduces stress and sadness). Journaling, being generous with others, and acupuncture have also been shown to increase our oxytocin levels.
Nutrient Check
Sometimes we can get deficient in certain nutrients. I have felt better mood-wise ever since I’ve regularly taken vitamins, including a multi-vitamin, and vitamins B-12 and D. The most common deficiencies are B-Complex and D, and omega-3s. Sometimes a diet too heavy in sugar, alcohol and caffeine can also trigger poor moods. Adaptogens are a great way to boost your moods, and our favorites for this are ashwaganda, maca, rhodiola and holy basil. I take ashwaganda, maca, and rhodiola as powders in my smoothie, and I drink holy basil as a tea.
Our Favorite Good Mood Foods
We can also add straight-up foods to our diet for mood and eat them with consistency. Make an effort to add these into your routine if you are battling the blues. We are including, below, one of our favorite recipes that combines a few of these magical foods!
- Wild Fish
- Dark Chocolate, or raw cacao
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseed
- Nettle tea
- Cooked leafy greens
- Seaweed
- Lentils
- Avocado
- Spinach
- Green Tea
- Almonds
Try out this delicious recipe, the chia pudding in which needs to be set overnight. It’s such a treat you won’t believe it’s healthy for you. We hope you feel better soon! xoxoxo
Crystal Chocolate Coconut Chia Pudding Jar
- 1 can coconut milk
- 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
- 3 Tbsp. chia seeds
- 1 frozen banana
- 2 Tbsp. raw cacao
- 1 Tbsp. coconut crystals
- 1 Tbsp. peanut or almond butter
- 1 Tbsp. hemp hearts
- 1 1/2 cups almond milk
- The night before, combine the coconut milk, maple, and chia seeds in a jar and whisk or shake until completely blended. Refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, make your smoothie. Combine the banana, cacao, coconut crystals, nut butter, hemp, and almond milk in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Layer the chia pudding and smoothie in a jar, or else spoon both into a bowl. Top with whatever fruits and nutritional boosts that you’d like, and enjoy this filling and super delicious breakfast! Can also be served as a dessert.
Optional Toppings: raw cacao nibs, berries, melon, hemp hearts
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