According to the old saying, we are what we eat and when it comes to boosting confidence and self-esteem, it’s definitely true. As well as giving you the right nutrition, certain foods can also improve your wellbeing, according to a survey carried out by the Mood and Food Project.
They asked 200 people if their diet changes had had any effect on their mood and self-esteem with a massive 80% confirming that indeed it had. The same survey revealed that ditching sugar and caffeine was most beneficial to the vast majority of those quizzed.
So which foods can we count on to improve our mood, boost our confidence and enhance our health?
Well, vitamins fulfil an incredibly important role. Ensuring you get the right balance of vitamins will keep your nutritional levels in balance while also improving mental and emotional health. Add the likes of avocados, bananas and sardines to your diet and if necessary, take multivitamin or specific supplements if you feel you need more of a boost.
Cut back on red meat and processed products that are filled with saturated fats and trans fats – they are known to have a detrimental effect on mental health and mood. Instead have food every day that is high in polyunsaturated “good” fats – the omega 3 fatty acids the likes of oily fish, tofu and walnuts contain are known as mood enhancers that can lift depression.
An amino acid called tryptophan that is present in proteins such as milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, fish and chickpeas, bananas and avocados is transformed into the brain chemical serotonin when processed by the body. As an imbalance in serotonin can lead to depression, eating those proteins can improve your mood and boost your confidence and self-esteem. Combine them with complex carbohydrates to maintain blood glucose levels.
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