Eat Fiber to Beat the Blues

Lifting your spirits might be as easy as adding more beans to your plate.  In the October 2018 issue of “Nutrition,” a study that monitored almost 17,000 American adults enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), reported that found that people who reported eating more overall fiber (including whole grains, fruits and veggies), exhibited less depressive symptoms.

Where exactly does this mood-booster come from?  Here’s the science:  High-Fiber Foods generally contain certain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are proven to improve brain function, including your moods. And, dietary fiber is known to help gut health, which, as weird as it may sound, is linked to brain health.

So what do you have to do to get the benefits?   Well, if you consume more than 21 grams of fiber a day, that is your magic marker for reducing your depression risk.  Typically, most Americans eat between 15 to 18 grams of fiber a day, so it’s really not asking a lot to have you boost it up those 3 to 6 measly grams, right?

So, go get your fill of fiber!  It’ll help your mood, and since fiber makes you feel fuller, longer, it may also help your waistline.

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