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Fast Mood Boosters: Quick & Easy Ways to Lift Your Spirits
and Keep Fit
by Dr. Reuven Bruner, Ph.D.
Feeling down in the dumps? Don't have to get-up-and-go to
work or the gym? What you need is a quick boost, something
that can raise your energy and adjust your attitude in a
month, a week, even a minute. So whenever your happy engine
is running on fumes, try the following for some high-octane
mood juice.
WORK OUT. You already know that exercise is the way
to a better body, but it has terrific mood and energy
boosting benefits as well. For instance, both aerobic
exercise and weight training have been found to produce
endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. What's
more, a single workout can raise your brain's levels of the
antidepressant chemicals dopamine, serotonin and
norepinephrine. And several studies have found that, at least
for some people, regular exercise, even brisk walking, can
combat depression as effectively as taking certain
medications. (Don't count on this, though: If you have
symptoms of clinical depression, such as persistent feelings
of sadness or hopelessness, ideas about suicide, difficulty
eating, sleeping or thinking or a general lack of interest in
life, get help from your doctor or a mental-health
professional.) Time till mood boost: Half an hour to several
weeks.
EAT A HEALTHY BREAKFAST. Starting your day with
protein, complex carbs and fiber not only fuels your morning,
it helps keep your blood sugar steady all day, meaning you
won't launch into that pre-lunch irritability in the middle
of a meeting with the boss or during a shiur at the
kollel/yeshiva. (By the way, a Danish or muffin/doughnut
isn't a proper breakfast, and the simple carbs can make your
bad mood even worse.) If you don't have much time in the
morning or don't like eating a heavy meal right after waking
up or davening, go for a bowl of whole-grain cereal
with nonfat milk and a handful of antioxidant-packed
strawberries or blueberries. Time till mood boost: 15
minutes - 1 hour.
(C) 2003 Dr. Reuven Bruner.
Dr. Reuven Bruner, Ph.D., is a Health/Fitness/Nutrition &
Total Lifestyle Consultant, specializing in Fitness of Body &
Mind. Contact him at: POB 1903, Jerusalem, 91314, Israel;
Tel: (02) 652-7684; Mobile: 052 865-821; Fax: (02) 652-7227;
Email: dr_bruner@hotmail.com
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