Greens...

As we’re almost in the season of “Quality Street for every meal” (I know it’s not just me),

So I thought I’d share a really simple tip that can help to improve your mood.

Ok, I was only joking (sort of!) about the Quality Street - but at this time of year we do seem to end up eating and drinking more.

And it’s usually more of the stuff that’s not necessarily healthy for us!

Don’t get me wrong - I love a bit of chocolate and party food; pigs in blankets are brilliant.

I gave up alcohol nearly 4 years ago, so can be forgiven for having other cravings...

But the Christmas season seems to begin earlier each year, and with it comes the party food and the tubs of chocolates and the “oh go on then, it is Christmas!”

And then, January rolls around and we find that someone has shrunk half our wardrobe.

Our mood matches the grey weather, and we’re fed up with everything.

So this week’s tip is something designed to help you to counteract all of that.

It’s something really simple, yet boringly effective.

Are you ready?

Eat more fruits and vegetables!

I know. revolutionary, right?

I think deep down, we all know that if we get (or exceed) our five-a-day, we feel better -

But it’s easy to forget that, especially when faced with a plate of sausage rolls!

Eating fruits and vegetables can help to improve our mood.

They help our bodies to move, to work well, and to repair themselves.

They can improve our gut health - which has a follow-on effect of improving our mood.

Studies have shown that eating more fruits and vegetables can increase our production of the hormones that make us feel good, like serotonin and dopamine.

There’s also the fact that we feel virtuous and healthy when we choose to eat fruits and vegetables!

I’m not suggesting you should replace party nibbles with bunches of kale - that would be a terrible idea.

But perhaps over the next few weeks, every now and then you’ll remember this email and grab an apple or add some veg to your dinner.

Just adding in some fruits and vegetables here and there can help to keep you going through the festive season,

Without too much of a crash and burn when we get to January!