A low-fat diet may make you grumpy. Researchers assessed the moods of a selection of people, before and after eating either a daily total of 41 percent or 25 percent of calories from fat. After a month, the lower-fat eaters were rated as more hostile and depressed. Those on the higher-fat diet exhibited better moods and less tension and anxiety.

Why does this happen? Fat stimulates hormones that influence activity of the brain chemical serotonin, important in governing mood. Low serotonin is linked with increased aggression and depression.

So what do we do? Many experts say it's not harmful to get your quota of fat if it's mainly monounsaturated fat (vegetable oils) and not artery-destroying saturated animal fat.

The ever popular Chocolate:

One of the most powerful mood elevators and the most popular 'reach out for a high' is chocolate. All or most of us can vouch for the fact that chocolate cravings rise as moods go low. This could be because, chocolate contains not just serotonin-boosting sugar and mind-soothing fat, but also other chemicals that favorably affect brain messengers controlling mood.

So, should you reach for that soothing bar or not? Hobson's choice!

The sunshine vitamin - vitamin D and food rich in it:
If dim winter sunlight gives you seasonal affective disorder (SAD), getting more vitamin D may boost your mood.The reason could be that Vitamin D, called "the hormone of sunlight," boosts levels of serotonin - a feel-good chemical - in the brain. Vitamin D can be toxic, so don't overdo it. Rather than reach out for supplements, go for the foods rich in Vitamin D. And they are:Salmon ( Hilsa), milk, cereal …

Here is another vitamin booster:

B vitamins have profound effects on the brain. Research shows correcting a deficiency of the B vitamin folic acid can relieve depression. In thiamine-deficient women, moods can be improved after three months of supplementing with Vitamin B.
Thiamine boosts moods even in women not lacking thiamine. Foods high in B vitamins: dried beans, whole grains, fish, dairy products, poultry, eggs, bananas, avocados.

So, when you feel low, run to the 'fridge by all means. Don't just binge on all that you see. Choose wisely.

Rich And Fat

Nikila Ram's story on successful dieting inspired me to tell mine as well.

I had always been slim and slender until a few years ago. Believe it or not, it was financial success that made me fat and unhealthy.

I had more than one servant now. I didn't have to move a finger around the house. The second car came along with a driver. I was driven around everywhere. I didn't even need to walk till the auto stand.

I could buy the best of everything - including junk food. I could afford to eat all that I wanted - or so I thought. After all, the price didn't worry me.

But I was paying a heavy price and it should have worried me right then. But I was too busy enjoying my new found affluence.

Life was fun all right. Full of shopping sprees, movies, card parties and eating binges. I thought I had it made. I was sure people must be envying me. After all, I had it made.

That's why I went into shock when I inadvertently heard my neighbours talking about me.

"Okay, I'll pass on the message to 'Porky Viji'. "That woman is rich. She's rich in food - always eating rich food!" "To her money means food. If they get richer, she'll eat even more. What a waste of money! In her place I would have used it with more sense."

I was shell shocked at what I had heard. Porky? Was I as bad as that? And did I equate more money with more food? Did my neighbours pity me? Why, they didn't have half the money I did? Was I really so pathetic?

I made an instant resolve. I was going to shed the porky image. If this was what money did to me, I'd shed the money too. I would even go back to my penny pinching days.

I started avoiding fast food restaurants like the plague. I went back to my bhel puri joints. I found that here I could eat without putting on weight.

I regretfully let my driver go. I didn't know how to drive - so it was back to walking to the old auto stand. And that was quite a walk!

I not only joined a gym but I made it my hang out too. I spent a good part of my day there. I had my cook to make different kinds of salad for me. No more biriyani and fried chicken for me.

Shopping? It would have to be done on foot. Get down in the shopping area and walk to the different shops. Use the staircase instead of the elevator.

If I expected instant results I was to be absolutely disappointed. It's easy to put on weight. Taking it off is a totally different ball game. It took me two years to come back to an acceptable weight again.

And here I am!! Porky had un-porked herself!

spirulina is super green food

Spirulina is being developed as the “food of the future” because of its amazing ability to synthesize high-quality concentrated food more efficiently than any other algae. This tiny aquatic plant offers 60% all-vegetable protein, essential vitamins and phytonutrients such as the antioxidant beta-carotene, the rare essential fatty acids GLA, sulfolipids, glycolipids and polysaccharides. Spirulina is one of the richest whole food source of beta-carotene, 10 times more concentrated than carrots. It is also the only natural whole food other than mother’s milk to contain GLA.

Spirulina also provides high concentrations of many other nutrients – amino acids, chelated minerals, pigmentations, rhamnose sugars (complex natural plant sugars), trace elements, and enzymes – that are in an easily assimilable form. Spirulina has no hard Cellulose in its cell walls, being composed of soft mucopolysaccharides. This ensures its protein is easily digested and assimilated in the human body. It is 95% digestible. 1kg Spirulina = 1,000kg of Various Vegetable

Protein	Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Valine, Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Cystine, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Histidine, Proline, Serine & Tyrosine.
Carbohydrates	Glucose, etc
Vitamins	Beta-Carotene, Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, D, E, Folacin, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin & Inositol
Minerals	Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Copper, Iodine, Sodium, Potatssium, Manganese, Chromium, Germanium & Selenium
Fat	GLA, Linolenic, Dihomogamma Linolenic, Palmitoleic, DHA & etc.
Pigments	Beta-Carotene, Chlorophyll, Total Carotenoids, Phycocyanin.

about colostrum?!

Colostrum supplies immune factor and growth factor for whole life.

Since human colostrum is rare, we need to shift to other alternative like cow colostrum.

In fact, cow colostrum is safe and contains 4 times immune factor compared to human colostrum.

- A type of low-lactose milk powder contains natural cow colostrum. - A quality product from New Zealand that

100% natural Free hormones/drugs/antibiotics/preservatives and chemicals Contains Immunoglobulin (Ig) Provide balance nutrition

"Naco IgG-Plus acts as a natural antibody supplier and it is the best sources for a healthy life"