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Food, Mood and Women's Health – Be your healthiest, look and feel great!

Carob Cinnamon Delight instead of coffee – a calming hot beverage

By Trudy Scott 34 Comments

hot drink recipe trudy scott

Carob is a delicious alternative to coffee or hot chocolate as it doesn’t contain caffeine. It has a definite chocolate-like flavor and is something I recommend to my clients who may be looking for a healthier alternative or who can’t tolerate coffee or chocolate. Carob is originally from the eastern Mediterranean region, Northern Africa and the western part of Asia. Ceratonia siliqua or carob is also known as locust bean gum.

Consider trying carob if you are anxious and stressed. There are a subset of those with anxiety who are more prone to the anxiety-provoking effects of coffee and some very sensitive people may even find the caffeine in chocolate to be too stimulating.

In fact a 2002 study found that carob may actually have calming effects. It is also antioxidant rich, contains the polyphenol gallic acid which has been shown to help metabolic syndrome, it has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol, it has chemoprotective properties and helps with digestion.

Here is a recipe for a delicious beverage you can make using carob powder:

Carob Cinnamon Delight al la Trudy

¾ cup of boiling water

1 Tablespoon carob powder

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Coconut milk (full-fat) or fresh raw cream (if you can tolerate dairy)

Boil the water, add carob and cinnamon and top up with coconut milk (or cream), stir and enjoy! The carob tends to settle a bit so you’ll probably need to stir it again when you’re half way through drinking it.

If you are going to give up coffee it’s good to have some alternative beverages on hand You could try delicious herbal teas (such as licorice, lemon-ginger, and mint), coffee substitutes such as Dandy Blend, rooibos or green rooibos (herbal teas from South Africa that appears to have health benefits similar to those of green tea), or one of my favorites – carob!

I’d love to get your feedback on how you enjoyed this and any variations you’ve tried.

Enjoy!

P.S.  Check out my book The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings for other calming tips. 

 

Low GABA Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution

By Trudy Scott 16 Comments

This questionnaire will help you identify whether you may have low levels of GABA. Check off any of the symptoms below that apply to you:

Anxiety and feeling overwhelmed

Feeling worried or fearful

Panic attacks

Unable to relax or loosen up

Stiff or tense muscles

Feeling stressed and burned-out

Craving carbs, alcohol, or drugs for relaxation and calming

If you checked off 3 or more symptoms, you may have low GABA levels.

You may benefit from taking a supplement containing GABA. GABA is the most important calming neurotransmitter, and is also an amino acid. Low levels of GABA are associated with anxiety, agitation, stress, and poor sleep. If you have sufficient GABA, you’ll feel relaxed and stress free. You won’t have anxiety or panic attacks, and you won’t eat sugary foods or other starchy foods or feel like you need a glass of wine in an effort to calm down.

Try some yoga, which has been shown to raise GABA levels. It’s also important to do whatever you can to reduce stress in your life. In addition to yoga, try tai chi, meditation, taking walks outdoors in a peaceful environment or taking a vacation.

It’s amazing how many women tolerate low-grade anxiety. I’m working with a client at the moment, who came to me because she has low energy and arthritis. It turns out, based on the Low GABA Questionnaire, she has low grade anxiety and stiff/tense muscles. Based on her Low Serotinin Questionnaire she also has mild depression, imposter syndrome and negative self-talk. When I asked why these were not on her list of health objectives, she said they were just so much a part of her everyday life, that she really didn’t think there was anything she could do about it. I’m pleased to report that there is plenty we can do and did do and she is feeling a LOT better after a few short weeks!

Worry and anxiety can be a result of low GABA and also low serotonin, so you may check off anxiety in both this questionnaire and the Low Serotonin Questionnaire. I’ll address this in a future post.

This questionnaire is taken from chapter 6 of The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings, now available in major books stores, at Amazon and via www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com.

John Muir knows what it takes to feel calm and relaxed: get outside!

By Trudy Scott 8 Comments

yosemite trudy scott family
Kenny, Althea and Brad: Cares drop away in Yosemite

We were recently in Yosemite and as usual, the grandeur and beauty just takes your breath away and just leaves you feeling so relaxed, calm and totally inspired and ready for anything and everything! And I was reminded of the wonderful words of John Muir, naturalist, author, Sierra club founder and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States.

This is one quote I’ve always loved… it was actually on our wedding invite!:

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”

And this one really resonates with me too:

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity…”

You can read more of his wonderful quotes here.

John Muir was a wise man! Listen to his words and go and do something fun this weekend – outside! It doesn’t have to be Yosemite or any big destination – any nature and anywhere green, with or without water, can give you immediate joy! If you’re prone to the winter blues, it will lift your mood. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious it will calm you. If you’re tired it will invigorate you.

We have had no rain here for ages and it’s been lovely and sunny – which has been great as we fix up a few things around our new home. We painted the deck a lovely Navajo Red color and it’s so lovely to sit and eat lunch out there and catch some warm rays. And we’ve been gardening. Yes gardening, not doing yard work – my mom says “it’s the garden not the yard!” We have a LOT of trees and a LOT of leaves – which means a great workout picking them all up. I rake and do squats and it sure beats going to the gym because I’m outside. If we can’t get away on the weekend, this counts too…

Where will you go? And where is your favorite place in nature?

Winter blues, SAD, holiday stress and sugar

By Trudy Scott 19 Comments

gift stress solution food anxiety

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or “winter blues” is a form of depression most often associated with the lack of light during the fall and winter months. It is very common and may be associated with low serotonin levels. We often associate low serotonin with depression, however low serotonin can also be associated with: anxiety, excessive worry and feeling overly stressed. There’s evidence of seasonality in anxiety and panic attacks, just as there is with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Another common sign of low serotonin is increased carbohydrate cravings, especially during the afternoon or evening.

Does this sound like you during the December holidays: Blah? Depressed for no reason? Stressed? Overwhelmed? Anxious? Eating tons of carbs and sugary foods? Perhaps it’s not only the stress of the holidays but is made worse by low serotonin?!

For many of my clients who are prone to having their serotonin levels decline in the winter months, if they don’t the following approaches to raise serotonin they end up with worsening depression and anxiety, and increased afternoon and evening sugar cravings.

So here are some tips to feel great during the holidays:

  • use light therapy, using a full-spectrum lamp
  • address any deficiency of vitamin D as there is evidence that it may improve seasonal anxiety and depression
  • moderate exercise raises serotonin levels and relieves anxiety and depression, so it’s important to get some exercise during the winter months – join the gym or ideally do something outdoors like skiing.
  • the amino acids tryptophan and 5-HTP, taken in supplement form are tremendously powerful for raising serotonin levels – dramatically improving depression and anxiety, and stopping those afternoon and evening cravings. If you are taking a SSRI, it’s important to work with your doctor before taking tryptophan and 5-HTP
  • eat real whole foods with good quality protein
  • eat to avoid blood sugar swings
  • avoid junk foods and sugar (made easier by doing all of the above!)
  • stay hydrated and drink enough water even if it is cold – research shows its helps to boost neurotransmitters levels

Check out some great holiday gift ideas to help with all of the above.

I live in the Sacramento area and from November onwards it’s pretty gloomy and grey. I personally feel much better mood-wise during winter when I am out telemark snow-skiing on the weekends – which appears to a combination of the exercise and being out in the bright white snow!

Holiday Gift Ideas: Antianxiety Food Solution, SpinGym & healthy food

By Trudy Scott 20 Comments

trudy scott and SpinGym
Here I am with the Forbes Riley and the SpinGym at SHINE 2011!

Here are some wonderful holiday gift ideas to help you handle the stress, anxiety, overwhelm, winter blues and sugar cravings that typically go along with the holidays!

The first gift idea is The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help you Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings (June 2011) by yours truly (Trudy Scott, Food-Mood expert and certified nutritionist, and President of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals). Yes, I’m biased but I’m also on a mission to help women like you make the connection between food and mood and I want you to feel on top of the world always!

Buy one for yourself if you don’t already have one and buy one for each of your friends and family members. I’d love to hear how you enjoyed it! It’s available in major book stores, on Amazon and via www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com. You can read reviews here: Dr Winston Chung https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/antianxiety-food-solution-review-by-dr-winston-chung/ and Chef Rachel https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/chef-rachel-review-of-the-antianxiety-food-solution/.

The second gift idea is a Spin-gym www.spingym.com It’s an awesome workout for the arms and upper body, is a ton of fun and the brainchild of Forbes Riley. We met recently at Ali Brown’s SHINE event and her enthusiasm and passion for helping women be superfit and healthy is just awesome! I bought one and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! The picture here is me getting a demo from Forbes at the SHINE event. All I can say is: “Wow! What an incredible workout!!!” Please do let me know how much you love yours.

And the final gift ideas are food gifts or vouchers from Vital Choice and US Wellness Meats. Vital Choice offers wild, sustainable and delicious salmon, other seafood and healthy goodies. US Wellness Meats offers mail order grassfed meat and other wonderful products like pemmican! They support family farms, sustainable farming and humane practices. [Disclosure: These are my affiliate links but I use and truly love the products from US Wellness Meats and Vital Choice. I recommend them to my clients and readers because they are so great.]

So wrapping up: a book with all the facts and information so you can be educated and informed, a SpinGym to get some fun exercise and some delicious real whole food! Great combo for you and a friend! Enjoy!

Cabbage Caraway recipe: simple and yet so nutritious

By Trudy Scott 11 Comments

Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that is delicious, is easy to prepare and very versatile and has some incredible health benefits – and is just beautiful to look at! So here is a simple and yet nutritious cabbage recipe and some reasons why you may want to eat some today. Enjoy!

Tasty caraway cabbage

1 cabbage finely sliced
Butter (about half a stick)
Caraway seeds (2 to 4 tablespoons)
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Steam the chopped cabbage in a large soup pot with colander – steam for about 5-7 minutes until the cabbage is soft but not too soggy. Tip into a large serving casserole dish and add butter and spices. Mix to cover the cabbage and serve warm. Enjoy!

I always make extra when I cook, so left-over can be used for lunch the next day. Lightly steam (not microwave!) left-overs for a minute or two or serve cold with a nice salad dressing.

Cabbage is on the Environmental Working Group’s Clean 15 list https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/ewg-2011-dirty-dozen-apples-celery-strawberries/ meaning it is low in pesticides so buying cabbage organic is not imperative if you can’t find organic.

And here are some of the reasons to inspire you to make cabbage (other than the delicious taste of course!)

  • Cabbage is well-known for their powerful role in cancer prevention. In a study from Poland, 4 cabbage servings per week showed reduced breast cancer risk
  • Cabbage is a great source of antioxidants such as vitamin C and beta-carotene
  • Cabbage is anti-inflammatory
  • Cabbage is important for digestive health (cabbage juice actually heals ulcers)
  • Cabbage is great source of fiber
  • Cabbage, as sauerkraut, is a great source of probiotics

And caraway seeds have a delicious anise-like flavor (you may recognize the taste from rye bread) and they too contain antioxidants, are a source of fiber, support the digestive system and are actually calming.

I personally love cabbage and love it with caraway seeds! It’s one of my favorite veggies – cabbage and Brussel sprouts which are in the same family. Of course cabbage is mentioned in my book The Antianxiety Food Solution www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com, as part of a real whole foods diet. And sauerkraut, which is made from cabbage, is just one of the many great mood foods I talk about on my Fox40 interview https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/foods-for-your-moods-fox-40-anxiety/ Time for some cabbage and caraway seeds!? Enjoy!