7 Healthy Food Items That Can Instantly Lift Your Mood

Had a bad day at work or are stressed about an upcoming interview? While you might want to grab chocolate ice-cream or drown your woes in a bottle of wine, try these healthy foods that will boost your energy and perk you up!

Nuts: Several nuts, especially almonds and walnuts, are known to decrease dopamine levels in the brain, leading to a calm, balanced feeling.

Avocado: The monounsaturated fats in avocados apparently help lower blood pressure, keeping your mood calm and balanced.

Whole wheat pasta: Whole grains are said to generate serotonin which helps balance your mood and satisfies your hunger. So, what better way to beat the stress than cook up some yummy whole wheat pasta with veggies or chicken?

Milk: Nothing soothes a worried mind like a glass of warm milk. It is known that dairy products contain Vitamin D, which is thought to boost serotonin and help with seasonal mood disorders.

Fish: Fatty fish like salmon contains a high level of Omega 3 which can help lower symptoms of depression.

Green Tea: While tea is emotionally soothing for many people, green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that can improve your mood and reduce stress.

Dark Chocolate: Known to have positive effects on brain endorphins, a dark chocolate dessert can go a long way in lifting up your spirits.

5 Must Do Things Before Getting Married

To ensure a smooth ride post marriage, these are 5 things you must do before you get hitched.

1. Get back in shape
Every woman wants to look stunning on her wedding day; after all, she is going to be the centre of attention. Take time to invest in looking good for the big day by focusing on fitness and diet. However, together with physical fitness, make sure you include exercises or activities that keep you mentally refreshed as well. Try some fun workouts like Zumba or belly dancing so that you don’t lose interest easily. Just make sure you stay regular.

2. Become financially independent
Women often underestimate the value of being financially independent. Sure, you will marry a man who will take care of you no matter what. But being financially sound isn’t just about having financial security; it is also about the confidence it brings to your personality. The fact that you don’t need to depend on your spouse for your spending needs is a great feeling. What’s more, he will probably respect you for it too.

3. Master a few dinner recipes
Clichéd it may be, but the phrase ‘win a man’s heart through his stomach’ definitely holds true. For those who aren’t food savants, you can join a course where you can learn basic cooking methods together with a wide variety of recipes of different cuisines. They will surely come handy to keep your family happy. Unless of course, you grabbed a chef for a husband!

4. Get premarital counseling
With the steady rise in the number of divorce cases in India, premarital counseling is now more of a preventive measure. It lets the couple understand each other better and have detailed discussions about sensitive topics like sex, children, religion and finances with a trained practitioner facilitating it. Even though it may not seem like you need to, it is crucial to be aware of each other’s needs right at the start, so that marriage doesn’t come with any false illusions. Often people shy away from counseling because of the general perception that something has to be wrong for one to try it. But you need to act with maturity and understand that this open communication will go a long way in maintaining peace in a marriage.

5. Visit your gynecologist
Sex and family planning come with a whole gamut of queries, on the right method of birth control, understanding ovulating patterns and many more. It is best to visit your gynecologist and get all those questions answered. In addition, be sure to have a complete health check-up to ensure no unknown problems crop up later, like maybe when you’re off on your honeymoon.

10 Rules To Follow Once You Move In Together

1. Discuss finances
Figure out how much money each of you will contribute to running your home.

2. Divide chores
You can’t do it all alone, and you shouldn’t have to.

3. Pick out furniture and furnishings together
You both need to feel comfortable in your home, so find the middle ground between lacy pillows and a barcalounger.

4. Establish hygiene and cleanliness rules
Yes, men get annoyed when women nag them about wet towels and dirty bathrooms. “But if one is mature, it will be easy to agree with the spouse who is trying to facilitate a more superior living situation,” says Dr Bhonsle.

5. Don’t neglect your friends and family
It is now, more than ever, that you need to make time for them.

6. Set aside ‘me’ time
Getting your quiet moments will help you better enjoy your time with your spouse.

7. Keep your relationship fresh
There’s no excuse for slacking off on the romance just because you’re married.

8. Privacy is essential.
No one can argue about the merits of taking a shower together, but don’t do away with the mystery in your relationship. Have areas cordoned off for your time alone, which might be useful if you want to take a time-out in the middle of a fight as well.

9. Communicate without arrogance
You may have had a perfectly valid point when you asked him to help with more household chores, but Dr Bhonsle points out, “I’ve had husbands saying that they wouldn’t have minded doing what their wives said if they had asked them nicely, instead of yelling at them or insulting them.”

10. Go out
Takeout and TV while cuddling on the couch can often be tempting, but resist the urge. You need to share new experiences together.