Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Quit smoking, lose weight, eat a healthy diet, exercise more: these are the well-known ways to health and wellbeing. However, in concentrating on the physical, we often forget another vital part of health: emotional wellbeing. Being happy, having good self-esteem, knowing who you are and where you’re going, are as much a part of good health as eating your vegies. h3. Mental Health Week It’s National Mental Health Week here in Australia, and Wednesday is World Mental Health Day. …

Read more 08 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

While you may be aware diet is important for physical health, we rarely think about the impact of food on mental health. However, what you eat will affect the health of your brain. We’re a long way from saying food definitely causes mental health problems. However, diet is an important part of treating mental health issues. By eating well and following a few simple diet guidelines, you can minimise your risk of mental health problems. The diet guidelines for …

Read more 09 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Omega 3s are essential for brain health. They’re a group pf poly-unsaturated fats, found in fish and some plant foods. These fats form part of the structure of our brains, including the myelin sheath. Low levels of Omega 3s have been linked to depression, as well as learning problems in children. Although this is an important nutrient, we’re eating less and less of it. Most people don’t eat a lot of fish, plus our consumption of the Omega 3 …

Read more 09 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

The most important meal of the day and still so many people forget it. Although eating breakfast might not be high on your list of priorities, it will make your brain work better. h3. The importance of breakfast After sleeping through the night, your body has used up it’s easily accessible energy stores. If you don’t have breakfast your blood sugar levels drop and you’re more likely to experience a low mood, irritability and tiredness. A number of studies …

Read more 10 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day and in Australia it’s also Stress Less Day. There is a huge range of activities going on around the world. Here in Sydney, the official launch of Mental Health Week is happening in Martin Place and I’m going to head down and take a look. The launch includes: * speakers * free massages * a Living Library tent * free nutrition consultations * personal training sessions * tai chi classes * as well …

Read more 09 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Hands up who’s stressed? Seems it’s become a normal part of our lives these days. We experience it at work, running for the bus, driving in City traffic, around our relatives and ferrying the kids around. A certain amount of stress can be useful, especially when trying to make a deadline! Too much stress on the other hand can cause health problems, both physical and mental. h3. Are you stressed? While we all react to stress slightly differently, there are …

Read more 10 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Yesterday was World Mental Health Day. The following are some links to people who’ve been talking mental health: * Down to earth has blogged about depression and rural suicide here in Australia. * Sue is a mental health nurse and has posted about her experiences, training and the difficulties of working in the mental health arena. * Mental health notes asks When did you come out with your mental illness? * The Transparent Hypnotist celebrated World Mental Health Day …

Read more 11 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Are you in Australia and close to a radio? This morning Triple J’s weekly science talkback is all about mental health. Natasha Mitchell will be talking to Zan Rowe about mind, brain and behaviour. They’ll also be taking questions from listeners. * Time: 11.00am – 12.00pm AEST * Ratio station: Triple J – in Sydney it’s FM 105.7 I’ll check later if there’s a podcast of the session. :Update: there’s no podcast for thIs session. However All in the Mind …

Read more 11 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Your brain is an organ, just like your heart, liver and kidneys. There’s a lot we don’t know about how the brain works. One thing we do know, is you need to feed your brain for it to be healthy. Carbohydrates, Omega 3 essential fatty acids, protein, vitamins, minerals and water – these are the nutrients your brain needs. Vitamins are needed by your brain, because they assist biochemical reactions. For example, vitamins are catalysts in the production of …

Read more 11 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Alcohol is a depressant. Just think about that. It’s Mental Health Week, we’re talking diet strategies to improve your mental health, and one of the most common drinks we consume is a depressant. While a glass of wine at the end of the day can be relaxing and you may use a couple of drinks to rev up for a party, alcohol is not a stimulant. Small amounts calm and reduce inhibitions, because it’s a central nervous system depressant. …

Read more 12 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Eating irregularly and eating the wrong foods can make you moody, tired and irritable. Each time you eat, some parts of the food are broken down into glucose – the primary source of fuel used by your body and brain. However, a few hours after eating, that glucose supply dwindles – leading to a drop in blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels are low many people experience mood changes. Feelings of depression, annoyance, anger and inability to cope are …

Read more 13 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health and Salads

• Beetroot recipes: Here in the Southern hemisphere we’re moving into summer. But how can I resist two more beautiful beetroot recipes? Lisa’s Kitchen features a beetroot and fetta salad, while Mostly Eating has posted a beetroot, sumac and sweet potato salad. * Snowpea Salad: Much more suitable for summer – Chocolate & Zucchini has a recipe for triple sesame snow pea salad. Blanched snow peas are livened up with a nifty dressing containing the sesame trifecta of seeds, …

Read more 26 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

I’ve been thinking a lot about excuses over the last few days. More specifically, the little phrase “I’m too”. I hear myself saying this phrase at times – mostly when I don’t want to do something. I’m too . . . tired to exercise. I’m too . . . busy to meditate. I’m too . . . rushed off my feet to cook a proper meal this evening. h3. But am I really that tired? I have as many …

Read more 09 January, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Vegetables, Mental & emotional health, Soups and Ethics & Sustainablity

• Food prices: Like cheap oil, is cheap food a thing of the past? Interesting opinion piece from the NY Times. * Junk food: Why you can feel sick after eating junk food: Journey of a Cheeseburger. * Corn & mung ramen: Love the look of the corn and mung ramen on the cuisine.com.au site. Quick, light and delicious. * Mashed veg: Instead of having mashed potatoes – why not make Jamie’s mashed vegetables? Great winter food. * *My …

Read more 11 April, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Finally in today’s Q & A Thursday a reader asks: how do SSRI antidepressants cause weight gain? I’m not an expert in pharmacology but as far as I know, there’s no answer to this question – yet! SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are a group of antidepressants which include prozac, zoloft and lexapro. About 25 percent of the people who take these antidepressants gain weight, but at the moment _we don’t know the precise mechanism by which this …

Read more 04 September, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Snacks, Vegetables, Mental & emotional health, Dinners and Ethics & Sustainablity

• Easy way with broccoli: There’s a big promise in The Wednesday Chef’s post on broccoli, but this is a super simple and great looking recipe. * Huevos Rancheros: Smitten Kitchen is a new blog to me, but I love the look of this recipe for the Tex-Mex dish huevos rancheros. * Indian spiced croquettes: I’m loving the idea of these spinach and pea tikkis from Quick Indian Cooking. And they’re grilled, not fried. * BBC’s food resource: There’s …

Read more 05 September, 2008

Posted by kathryn in Breakfast, Vegan, Mental & emotional health, Dinners and Ethics & Sustainablity

It’s been a light blogging week for me. I’m working hard on a writing project for Wellbeing – something interesting they’re releasing early next year. But I shall be back properly next week. For a few days of food made from the pantry. I’ve had some entries already and am going to post a couple of recipes of my own. In the meantime, here’s the usual Friday Quicklinks. Plus a photo of my fridge – which is for Wendy. …

Read more 26 September, 2008