Earth Balance Spreads - Made Just Right

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We recently read an article by Alexandra Jamieson about Food and Mood that we found rather interesting. Alexandra is the author of Vegan Cooking For Dummies as well as The Great American Detox Diet, so she knows a thing or two about how what we eat affects both our bodies and minds.

Alexandra has identified certain food additives than can lead to decreased health as well as lead to irritability, bad moods and other, more serious conditions. These are:

Sugar:
Sugar can actually deplete the bodyʼs reserves of important building blocks like vitamins and minerals needed to maintain balanced blood sugar, and therefore energy and mood. Refined sugar also decreases your ability to handle pain. If youʼre eating regular doses of sweets, youʼll feel that headache or back pain quicker and more intensely.

Caffeine:
If you consume regular amounts of caffeine throughout the day, your brain and body wonʼt be able to chemically balance your mood due to serotonin deficiency. Common symptoms of serotonin deficiency include heart and intestinal issues, problems with sleep, which is also directly affected by caffeine, muscle pain, migraine headaches, and cravings for sugar, carbohydrates, and alcohol.

Artificial Sweeteners:
Many artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, can block serotonin receptors. As with caffeine, artificial sweeteners can inhibit the brainʼs ability to use serotonin correctly which can lead to depression, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, panic, and even excess anger.

Gluten:
People who canʼt properly digest gluten, a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and most oats, are known as celiac. When a gluten-sensitive person eats these grains for many years, their digestive system is damaged. This damage can cause tears in the intestinal lining, which then leads to malabsorption of nutrients.

Milk:
Dairy is one of the top five food allergens. An allergy to a certain food like the dairy found in milk, cheese and butter can cause symptoms such as anxiety, attention deficit disorders, fatigue, gas, headaches, irritability, and joint pain. Another dangerous aspect of dairy consumption is lactose intolerance. Most humans lack the digestive enzymes necessary to digest the milk sugar lactose, leading to digestive problems.

Preservatives and Colorings:
Artificial colors and flavors such as yellow and red dyes, and MSG are also called “excitotoxins” because they excite our brainʼs neurons to be overly active. Consuming these additives over years has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases and mood disorders. MSG can be hidden on food labels with the terms hydrolyzed vegetable protein, vegetable protein, natural flavorings, yeast extract, and even “spices.”

Alexandra Jamieson, is a professionally trained healthy gourmet chef, having studied at New York City’s Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts. She refined her techniques by cooking professionally in Milan, Italy, as well as at Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Gang Camp, and a variety of popular New York City restaurants. In addition, she is a certified health and nutrition counselor. For more information about her and her programs, visit her website at: www.deliciousvitality.com

Are there certain foods that affect your mood? Share your experiences with us in the comments below for a chance to win today's Everyday Giveaway for free Earth Balance!