Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (177 page)

Certain fresh fruits help to stimulate energy flow through the liver, especially dark grapes, blackberries, huckleberries, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.

Mangos contain natural mood elevators.

Foods high in chlorophyll such as spirulina, wild blue-green algae, wheat grass, or barley grass will supply your diet with essential fatty acids, in particular the omega-3.

Vegetables containing sulphur, which are high in specific liver-building enzymes: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, nuts, seeds (especially flax, sunflower, and pumpkin), kohlrabi, turnip roots.

Green vegetables and leafy greens are good sources of magnesium. Magnesium is very important for preventing low moods and depression. Grains containing magnesium include amaranth, millet, quinoa; legumes: kidney beans, peas, soy beans, tofu.

Wheat germ (added to smoothies), tofu, beans, lean meats like turkey and chicken, bananas. They contain tyrosine and phenylalanine, which tend to make you feel better.

Brazil nuts, which I call the Good Mood Nut, are a good source of the mood-lifter mineral selenium.

Eating foods rich in tryptophan naturally boosts serotonin. These include chicken, turkey, brown rice, bananas, eggs, fish, nuts, wheat germ, and avocados.

AVOID

Added sugars, alcohol, caffeine.

Diet drinks and sodas containing chemical sweeteners and additives, which can trigger depression.

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Herbs containing magnesium include: basil, bay leaves, black pepper, cardamon, cumin, ginger, and rosemary.