Avocado Anxiety: and Other Stories About Where Your Food Comes From

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Almonds may be beneficial for people suffering from moderate levels of stress or anxiety. They contain a healthy dose of magnesium. Just twelve almonds contain almost 20% of your recommended daily intake. Spinach also contains a good amount of magnesium. Avocados and avocado oil contain substances that have antimicrobial properties. Research shows that avocado seed extracts can help defend the body against both Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus infections, for example. 11. Protection from chronic disease

Junior Reading Experiment (4-6 April) gives sci-curious young minds a chance to meet science authors while the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh presents, among many others trails and workshops, Frankenstein’s Plants: The Revenge (14-16 April) where children design their own herbarium specimen to take home, and Spring in the Vegetable Garden (16 April) – all about growing your own food at home. With programming for the Planet a continuing focus for the Festival, this year’s programme features an inspiring line-up of speakers and events: eminent voice in the climate crisis discussion, Astronomer Royal and former President of the Royal Society, Lord Martin Rees explores If Science Is To Save Us (3 April), author Louise Gray looks at the environmental impact of our favourite fruits and vegetables in Avocado Anxiety (3 April), founder of the global network The People Who Share, Benita Matofska talks about how sharing and circular economy can fundamentally change the way we live in Generation Share (12 April), supported by Zero Waste Scotland. Research has associated an optimal intake of folate with a reduced risk of developing colon, stomach, pancreatic, and cervical cancers. However, the mechanism behind this association remains unclear. Half of an avocado contains roughly 81 mcg of folate, 20% of the daily value. A Festival staple, Summerhall’s galleries house a fascinating series of exhibitions and events from visual artists exploring themes of earth, climate, sustainability, biodiversity, micro-life and humanity by experimenting with scientific processes and practices. Presented by Summerhall and ASCUS Art and Science, Interlinked (1 April – 15 May) showcases Darkroom Ecology by environmental artist Scott Hunter which explores the co-existence of ecological and industrial materials; Lost, a climate action exhibition featuring a collection of 18 #LitterCUBES stitched and woven together from thousands of pieces of beach litter plastic, collected by artist Julia Barton and volunteers in the coastal communities of Eyemouth, Dunbar, Arbroath, Ullapool and Shetland; named after the number of bacteria species detected in her body, 3607 by artist Kexin Liu examines microorganisms living in the human body and their impact on our sense of “self”; relating the health and wellness of soil to our own existence, Earth, Soil + Filth by interdisciplinary artist Agatha Smith explores the soil as an indicator of the future and a record of our human struggle – when degraded, all life is threatened. Studies have shown that eating a more traditional and less processed diet, like the Mediterranean diet or traditional Japanese diet, reduces the risk of developing both depression and anxiety by 25-35 per cent, whereas diets high in saturated fats and refined carbs can increase depressive and anxiety symptoms by as much as 70 per cent". Something to bear in mind next time you reach for that sausage roll. AlcoholGreen tea in general slowly releases caffeine and the hit you’ll get is more prolonged compared to coffee. From personal experience, I can say that a slow cup of matcha in the morning (instead of coffee) makes me calm and focused. Try it for yourself and see if it can work for you. Long been a buzzword as a 'healthy alternative', the fabled green tea can have a calming effect through an amino acid called L-theanine, which reduces levels of cortisol. Pumpkin seeds Louise Gray is a writer and journalist who specializes in writing about food, farming, and climate change. In recent years, she has written for The Sunday Times, Scottish Field, the Guardian, and The Spectator, among others. She has also appeared on BBC television and radio. Her first book, The Ethical Carnivore, won Best Food Book and Best Investigative Work at the Guild of Food Writers Awards and was shortlisted for the Fortnum and Mason Food Book of the Year. If you're experiencing anxiety and want to do all you can to combat it, you'll be pleased to know there are a variety of foods that can go some way to reducing your symptoms.

Keep in mind however that matcha contains caffeine and caffeine has shown to cause anxiety when consumed in excess. It’s best to use organic high-quality matcha with high levels of theanine. This useful amino acid may actually hinder the anxiety caused by caffeine. They give you a longer-lasting energy boost and also take longer to digest. But that's not all, as complex carbs also naturally stimulate serotonin production, which has a soothing, calming effect. Anxiety seems to be correlated with low levels of antioxidants. Therefore loading up on fruits and veggies with high antioxidant levels may be a good choice. Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener said: “ Once again the fantastic Edinburgh Science Festival will transform the city into a celebration of science and technology which lets us all experiment!One study found that fermented foods may be beneficial for reducing social anxiety in young people. Another reviewfound that there is a link between mental health and probiotics, the bacteria found in yogurt.

Through visits to farms, interviews with scientists and trying to grow her own, she digs up the dirt behind organic potatoes, greenhouse tomatoes and a glut of courgettes.

A fascinating book full of surprising facts that will force you to reconsider everything you thought you knew about fruit and vegetables. Truly, this is food for thought." Has all of this made you feel terribly anxious about what you are going to have for lunch? Anxiety around food is never good. As a teenager and young adult, I suffered from bulimia and still today I will binge eat when feeling anxious. It is not something I am proud of, but it is something I am trying to forgive myself for. We all feel more anxious around food today and worrying about the environment can make matters worse. This happens especially if you are simply doom-scrolling on your phone, rather than finding proper information. It’s best to use all-natural organic almond butter without added sweeteners and chemicals. Peel the banana, slice and freeze it the day before. Scoop the flesh out of the avocado and wash the spinach. Add everything to your blender jar and blend until smooth and creamy. Enjoy this magnesium-rich anti-anxiety smoothie! Antioxidant-Rich Green Smoothie for Anxiety Turmeric might help you raise anxiety-reducing neurotransmitters such as serotonin, as well as lower cortisol stress hormones. Please make sure to clean your blender jar directly after making this smoothie to prevent turmeric stains. Folate is important for a healthy pregnancy. Adequate intake reduces the risk of miscarriage and neural tube abnormalities. A person should consume at least 600 micrograms (mcg) of folate per day when pregnant. One avocado may contain as much as 160 mcg.

Once you add in the impacts of water and fertiliser use, felling of rainforests and treatment of local workers into the picture, then making choices is difficult. Life’s like that – most things are complicated unless you don’t think about them and then everything is easy. When I’m talking about chocolate, I really mean dark chocolate. The darker the chocolate is, the more value it has. I like to use organic dark cocoa powder or dark chocolate with at least 90% cocoa content Add everything to your blender jar and blend until creamy and smooth. Add a source of healthy fat like seeds, nuts, or avocado to make this a filling breakfast smoothie. Enjoy!Looking at the total life cycle of a food item, rather than just the food miles, gives a more accurate indication of carbon footprint,” says Gray. “If you don’t have a beef burger, but drive to the supermarket to buy a plant burger wrapped in plastic, the carbon footprint could end up being higher.” Bananas Below, Louise shares 5 key insights from her new book, Avocado Anxiety: and Other Stories About Where Your Food Comes From. Listen to the audio version—read by Louise herself—in the Next Big Idea App. https://cdn.nextbigideaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/24144418/BB_LouiseGray_Mix.mp3 1. Eat less meat and more plant protein. Anxiety is an extremely common problem affecting millions of us, with symptoms varying from person to person and some affected more than others. The Fainzilber team surveyed genomic databases to find existing compounds that mimic genes whose expression helps induce calm. This work—based on prior Fainzilber lab research on proteins and genes associated with stress—led the team to beta-sitosterol, which is found in almonds, pistachios, various grains—and especially in avocados. Beta-sitosterol induced a marked decrease in anxiety in mouse studies when given alone or in combination with the known antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac), and more importantly, this was not accompanied by side effects often associated with anti-anxiety medication. Although I love blueberries and the vibrant color they give smoothies, you shouldn’t neglect other types of berries. Most berries are loaded with antioxidants and should be beneficial for treating anxiety symptoms. Here’s a list of the 8 healthiest berries you can add to your smoothies.