Lifestyle
Superfoods for Blue Moods: By Celebrity Chef + Soul Wellness Method Founder, Shauna Faulisi
by Andreea Nemes
5 years ago
This article was first published on Herbivore Botanicals. Read the original here.
Winter can be tough on the body and mind. The days are shorter, the nights are longer, and our moods tend to swing lower than we’d care for them to. We feel the inclination to stay home and hibernate, we become lenient about our workouts, and we crave our favorite comfort foods i.e. baked goods, sweets, and carb heavy items like pasta, pizza, and bagels! While they are delicious in moderation, too much of these savory bites can wreak havoc on our bodies, greatly affecting our hormones, moods, and waistlines.
Having a sustainable and adaptable approach to the seasons will help to keep you happy and healthy in the long run. It’s important to have those few key superfoods that will help you stay balanced as the seasons changed and don’t leave you feeling hit by the winter blues!
I’ve put together my favorite plant-based powerhouses that keep the body strong, happy, and soaring all year round.
Spirulina: The Aztecs were big fans. The ancient superfood is jam-packed with iron, amino-acids, a host of vitamins, and is the huge source of B-12. No wonder they loved it! Make this a blue-green algae a staple in your pantry.
Maca: This Peruvian root is a hormone-regulating adaptogenic superfood. It’s a complete protein, and filled with vitamins and minerals. Mostly found in powdered form, it’s well known as a natural aphrodisiac & libido enhancer -- which can definitely help cure the winter blues!
Avocado: Fats are essential for our body to carry out its’ most essential functions including the absorption of vitamins and minerals, and hormone regulation. Avocados are a wonderful anti-inflammatory and filled with vitamin A, folate, and fiber.
Moringa Leaf: From the same family as kale & broccoli it contains high levels of sulforaphane which has the ability to fight cellular damage and oxidative stress. This leaf, commonly found in powdered form, can lower glucose regulating energy, hunger hormones, and the waistline.
Blueberries: Known as a brainfood, this low-glycemic fruit rich in antioxidants has been shown to improve brain function. With its rich amounts of vitamin C, a master antioxidant, blueberries can help prevent signs of aging -- also a wonderful cure for the winter blues!
Soul Wellness Glow Smoothie to Beat the Blues
- 2 cups unsweetened non-dairy milk (or water – I like 1/2 & 1/2)
- 1 serving of your favorite vanilla or chocolate protein powder
- 1 cup spinach
- 1/4 avocado
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil and/or coconut butter
- 1-2 Tbsp ground flax seed
- ½-1 Tbsp maca
- ½-1 Tbsp Spirulina
- ½-1 Tbsp Moringa Leaf
- 1 sprig of mint
- A few dashes of cinnamon
- Blend & enjoy!
- I like to add cacao nibs and hemp seeds at the end to encourage chewing and it give it a crunch!
- Tag #glowsmoothie to share with the community!
Follow Shauna over at @soulwellnessmethod for daily tips on nutrition, wellness and beauty!
