The holiday season is supposed to be all fun and jolly, but why then do we so easily let it weigh us down? If your holiday season mood is not where you want it to be, here’s a great health tip that can help.

Did you know that there are certain good foods to keep you in a good mood? One of my favourite good foods for a good mood is avocados. Why? Not only do they taste great, but avocados are full of “good” fat. The monosaturated fats in avocados are known for helping to keep the receptors in your brain sensitive to serotonin.

And why is serotonin so important? Serotonin plays an important part in the regulation of learning, mood, sleep and vasoconstriction (constriction of blood vessels). Experts say serotonin also might have a role in anxiety, migraine, vomiting and appetite. Alterations in serotonin levels in the brain may affect mood. Some antidepressant medications affect the action of serotonin, i.e. they are used to treat depression.

What’s really interesting is that there’s a certain brain chemical that is more active during the winter months which actually lowers serotonin levels around brain cells . This means that serotonin levels are lower during the winter. Doesn’t that help explain a possible reason why some people feel more miserable during the winter?

RECIPE: Roslyn’s Avocado and Green Pea Guacamole

This is a great recipe if you’re watching your weight, calories or fat intake. In this recipe I augment the avocados with green peas and fresh tomato to help lower the fat and calorie content per serving and add a bit more nutritional variety. I also do this so I can eat a bit more of it guilt-free J So go ahead and indulge a bit. I don’t add cilantro because my husband can’t stand cilantro, but please feel free to experiment with it. It’s yummy with tortilla chips, crackers, pita bread, vegetables or mixed into a sandwich.

Ingredients:

• 2 small avocados (or 1 medium to large)
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 large clove garlic crushed
• 4 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ cup chopped tomatoes
• Pinch of chile pepper
• Chopped fresh cilantro to taste (optional)

Instructions:

• Cook frozen peas according to instructions on packaging.
• Scoop out inside of avocado with a spoon.

Put all ingredients into a blender or food processor and mix till desired smoothness.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this article and recipe. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Send to roslyn@roslynfranken.com.