Monday is here again. I don't really know since when everybody started to hate Mondays so much, but I have a feeling that Garfield started it. Granted, it's the first day of the week and everybody is having weekend withdrawals. Well, Keep Calm and Do These to help ease the Monday stings.
1. Sweat To Smile.
Exercise may be as effective at relieving mild to moderate depression as the antidepressant Zoloft, reveals a study from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. “Physical activity stimulates the feel-good chemical dopamine, which increases our sense of well-being,” explains Stephen Ilardi, Ph.D., author of The Depression Cure (Da Capo Press).
A little stressed out? Of all of the things you can do to bring on calm, aerobic activity may be most effective. Studies show that workouts counteract stress-related memory loss by speeding up production of new nerve cells in the hippocampus, the brain's memory processing center.
What's the best aerobic workout, you may ask. The best aerobic exercise is always the one that you love. For me, BodyCombat works the best. For some others, it's weight-lifting, yoga, anything that breaks out that sweat, really.
2. Go Fishing. Well, not literally.
"The omega-3 fatty acids in cold-water fish help the brain respond to signals from the mood chemicals dopamine and serotonin," Ilardi says, adding, "The antioxidants and flavonoids in colorful fruit and veggies work in combination with omega-3s to protect the brain from harmful inflammation that can trigger depression."
How you cook the fish can definitely affect how good it is for you. Grilling, broiling, poaching and baking all preserve salmon's healthy fats. Deep-frying, however, might cancel out salmon's benefits by increasing the amount of unhealthy fat it contains. Smoking the fish doesn't affect omega-3s, but it does add nitrites; studies indicate a link between the chemicals and stomach cancer. But salmon doesn't need to be fried or smoked to taste great.
I don't care so much about the science behind it, but sashimi will always make me smile. Now, who's in the mood for Japanese?
3. F.R.I.E.N.D.S
Research from the University of Chicago suggests that having a close circle is critical; people who are lonely have increased levels of depression.
A study in the American Journal of Health and Behavior reports that socializing with friends can have as positive an impact on health as quitting smoking, working out or eating right.
Curling up on the couch with a pal can be restorative, too. "A friendly touch puts the brakes on the brain's stress-response signals," Ilardi explains. Give someone you love a hug.
Even on a busy Monday rush hour you still have to eat, right? Plan for a quick bite with your buddy. A short break at JuiceWorks, or a sandwich at Subway works great. You don't have to unload your inner turmoil onto your friend, just the simple get-together works miracle on that foul Monday moods.
No comments:
Post a Comment