Fact: Our gut and brain are connected. Which means that whatever you eat has a direct effect on your mood. Your emotional wellbeing, especially when you’re recovering from heartbreak, must be your primary concern if you’re ever going to heal. So, let’s start with the one thing you can control… your eating. I’ll reveal the top 10 foods to make you happy again.

Why food can fuel your heartbreak

When practitioners say holistic healing today, they refer to balancing age old psychology methods with a more mind, body, spirit approach. This includes meditation, somatic therapies, etc. But there’s always one thing they consistently neglect to include in their teachings. It’s how the food we eat directly affects your mood.

It’s scientific. It’s neuroscience. It’s behavioral science. It’s the way we were created. Our food is our fuel. And you’re either eating to heal or harm. It’s just that simple. Dr. Mark Hyman says,

The most powerful medicine is at the end of your fork, not at the bottom of your pill bottle. Food is more powerful than anything in your medicine cabinet!

And as a Holistic Nutritionist, I know this to be true. When you make changes to your food intake you can instantly change your chemistry in your brain. And this change can make you instantly happy or sad, or anxious or hyper or calm.

Most people do this every day with their morning cup of coffee. They use it to become awake.
And then that sugary pop or soda to make you hyper or energized. So why not do some reverse engineering and use your food to make you happy instead of sad.

They call it the S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) for a reason. And then add in a traumatic event like a divorce or break up and no wonder you can’t function.

How foods influence your brain

As mentioned at the beginning, there’s a Gut-Brain connection that we have to be aware of.
The Gut and Brain are constantly talking to one another and telling each other what enzymes to produce more of, whether to increase motility and secretion, and even when we should be stressed or anxious.

Sadness and anxiety don’t just show up in the mind. Beside external stimulation, the types of food and how you eat your food is also driving your sadness.

More directly the gut tells the brain whether you should cry or feel ecstatically happy. And if you have been suffering from IBS or parasites, the imbalance of microbes can dictate what foods you should eat as well. The gut really does have a mind of its own.

That’s why we say, “what does your gut tell you?”

And that’s why keeping your gut microbiome in balance is one of the most important things you need to do as you heal your body from the trauma of heartbreak.

Top 10 Foods to make you happy again

Healing holistically really does include healing your body from the inside out. We can easily and instantly start to heal simply by adding more of these nutrients and foods into your diet.
And, here are the foods to stay away from that will only keep you in sadness and anxiety…

Top 10 Foods to help you heal are:

1. Avocados
2. Blueberries
3. Broccoli
4. Coconut Oil
5. Eggs
6. Green leafy Veggies
7. Wild Salmon
8. Turmeric
9. Lemons
10. Dark Chocolate

1. Avocados because of the healthy saturated fats containing Vitamin K, E, and C. Plus folate, riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid (all B vitamins). Plus, essential minerals of magnesium, potassium, copper and manganese. These all contribute to supercharging your brain and regulating your energy levels.

2. Blueberries are an incredible source of vitamins K1, C and Manganese and fibre. They contain antioxidants that help your heart function better, prevent cancer and diabetes.

3. Broccoli. I love broccoli for its ability to keep my liver clean and balanced. It contains components that fight free radical damage. So they keep you young! They also jam packed with cholorophyll, vitamins E and K, essential minerals and much more.

4. Coconut oil. You might have heard about the benefits of medium-chain triglycerides by David Asprey and his bullet-proof coffee. These components are essential for brain health and nervous system integrity… keeping you feeling calm instead of anxious.

5. Eggs. If you don’t have a sensitivity to eggs then it’s a good thing. Because eggs contain Vitamin D, B12, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, A, E, Phosphorus, Folate, Choline (liver and nerve function support), Iron, lutein and zeaxanthin (eye health and cell support). Plus 2 a day provides you with 77% of your daily intake of protein.

6. Green leafy veggies. The darker the better. There are so many nutrients and more importantly fibre to keep your gut healthy and things moving along.

7. Wild Salmon.This is the only fish I eat. If it’s inland that’s even better because it won’t be subjected to all the mercury in the ocean that is plaguing all fish. So beware! Salmon, the redder the better, contains a A and B vitamins. Is an excellent source of D (brain, mood, bones). Plus has many minerals and calcium for bone health.

8. Turmeric. I fell in love with turmeric when I was in India. I love all the spices they have. Indians are known for have low levels of heart disease for a reason. These spices are anti-inflammatory, contain Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acid plus the best minerals for fighting cancer, arthritis, diabetes, cholesterol, and is a great immune booster.

9. Lemons. I have lemon water every morning to clean out my liver and let my stomach know that it can start producing digestive acid. You’ll get over half of your daily requirement of Vitamin C. Super important to help your body produce collagen and absorb other vitamins.

10. Dark Chocolate. Any chocolate is good but dark chocolate eliminates the inflammatory dairy part. It’s a great source of iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, phosporus and flavanols (protects the heart and helps blood flow)

All great for supporting optimal function of your gut and brain on all levels. And don’t forget to get adequate water throughout the day. This helps all your cells so you can think clearly (we are 70% water after all).

How you eat your food also makes a difference

Eating in a calm environment and with or without people you like is a key element in helping your body digest these nutrient dense foods.

Start adding in these foods into your diet. Also,  the act of cooking for yourself at home will remind you how important you and your gut-brain health is to your emotional wellbeing.

Enjoy your happy food!

Join The Healing Circle to continue your journey back to yourself.

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