Cranky Mood Foods

YOU FILL UP ON 'LOW-FAT' OPTIONS
Low-fat muffins and pastries often contain safflower oils, as well as bad fats that leave you feeling moody.
Fix It: Choose alternatives rich in omega-3 fatty acids. You'll find them in walnuts and flax seeds, which you can sprinkle over your fruit salad, yoghurt or wholegrain cereals.

YOU'RE A MAD PANCAKE BANDIT
'Refined carbohydrates in pancakes cause blood-sugar levels to rise, then crash 90 minutes later,' says nutritionist Susie Burrell.
Fix It: The occasional pancake is fine, but add protein like peanut butter or yoghurt, which will make you feel less sluggish. Eating fibre will help sustain that energy. 'Eat small amounts of fibre every three hours,' Burrell advises. 'Big gaps between meals can make you feel cranky.'

IT'S TOAST ALL THE WAY FOR YOU
Most bread won't give you enough B vitamins (niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, folic acid), which produce the feel-good hormone serotonin.
Fix It: 'Wholegrain breads and cereals, which contain fruit and nuts, and are high in vitamin B,' Burrell says.

YOU EAT FRUIT BY ITSELF
Fruit gives us fibre and vitamins, but leaves us short on magnesium, which eases depression, and zinc.
Fix It: Add almonds, soy milk or wholegrain cereals – all rich in magnesium. 'People underestimate the importance of zinc, which helps the immune system work at its optimum level, and can be absorbed from baked beans,' Burrell says.

Author: Lucille Howe