Using Food and Drink to Lift Your Spirits
The world can definitely be a stressful place, and it’s probable that, on occasion, you’ll feel down and out of sorts. There could be good reasons for this, such as a health condition or a particular situation you’ve found yourself in, but sometimes it just seems to happen, and you’ll feel sad for seemingly no reason.
No matter why you’re feeling this way, it’s a good idea to know how to lift your spirits to help you get back on your feet and move forward. Although you do need to be careful and think about moderation, food and drink can be a great way to do this, so with that in mind, read on to find out more.
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Make It Balanced
Eating a balanced, healthy diet is crucial, and not thinking about healthy food can cause many problems, including mental health issues, obesity, and even some cancers – you can get more advice about that from the Moffitt Cancer Center, for example, and it’s useful to have the knowledge that will help you stay healthy as far as possible.
So no matter what you choose to do or how food and drink will help you feel better and lift your spirits, it’s always essential to have a plan to moderate what you eat and ensure you’re as healthy as possible. Of course, splurging once in a while is no problem, but it really should be a rare treat – and the fact that it’s a rare event will make it even more special and boost your spirits even more.
Comfort Food
You’ve probably heard of comfort food before, and you might have a good idea of what it is. Although it will be slightly different for each person, most of the time, comfort food will be hot meals that aren’t always entirely healthy but that make you feel good. Great examples include macaroni and cheese, hearty stews, cottage pie, lasagna, etc. Some people prefer sweet treats like cookies and ice cream, and these can certainly be comfort foods as well.
The main thing that all comfort foods will have in common is that they’ll make you feel good and perhaps evoke a sense of nostalgia – maybe you baked cookies with your grandmother, so baking and eating them make you feel happy, for example. Whatever the reason, choosing your favorite comfort food and enjoying it when you’re feeling sad can make a big difference.
Cooking With Others
Something else that can help is cooking with other people or eating with them. If you’re feeling down, inviting friends and family over for a homecooked meal can be the ideal solution; you’ll be able to sit around a table together and chat and laugh, which is a great way to boost your serotonin levels and feel happier. If you’re also feeding people, this can be an added boost.
Or perhaps it’s the cooking itself that will make you happy – those who enjoy being in the kitchen will definitely get that serotonin boost from cooking as well as eating the food. Invite people over who will help you make the food as well, and you can have fun while you’re prepping food or trying new flavors, and you’re sure to feel great because of it.
