Dec 1, 20232 min read

MOOD FOOD OF THE WEEK: TURMERIC

Are you looking for ways to naturally boost your mood and emotional wellbeing? Are you interested in making healthy choices now that will benefit your health in the future?

Mood: Anxiety Food: Turmeric What to know about turmeric and how it can help calm the mind:

Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant that can reduce the damaging effects of oxidative stress in the brain and has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety-like behaviors.
It is a strong anti-inflammatory agent, and can help calm the central nervous system to improve focus and lessen anxiety.
Turmeric helps to regulate neurotransmitter function in the brain, specifically, serotonin and dopamine levels, for improved mood.

Add this MOOD FOOD to your diet: Turmeric is a versatile spice that is a staple in my kitchen. I enjoy it every morning in a Golden Milk Turmeric Latte to start my day mentally well. It can also be used to add flavor to roasted vegetables, egg frittatas, stews, wild caught salmon and other clean proteins. You can add the root to a blender for a smoothie, or puree it into a sauce or soup. Just always be sure to add a pinch of black pepper to your turmeric as it increases the bioavailability of the curcumin by over 2000%. How to buy turmeric: Turmeric can be purchased ground into a powder in most grocery stores in the spice aisle. You can also find it as the whole root form in many specialty markets or farmers markets, or in pre-made products like tea bags or drink mixes in the wellness section of many stores. Be careful– if you are cooking with it, it does stain clothes and countertops.

References:

1) Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based Nutritional Psychiatry Service in the United States. She is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at MGH Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Naidoo is also the national bestselling author of This Is Your Brain on Food.