Good mood food

New research suggests fat-rich foods can actually make you happy. It's all thanks to something called, "the gut-brain response." This basically means the food that hits your gut can actually affect what your brain is doing. And in this study, a group of researchers from Belgium found that fat-rich foods can change the way the nerve cells in the brain respond to sadness. Results of the study were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. During the study, patients were given either a fat-rich solution or saline. They were then given musical and visual cues. These cues were designed to make the patients feel sad or neutral. Brain scans revealed that the fat-rich solution actually interrupted the feelings of sadness. So not only can fat improve your physical health, but your mental and emotional well-being, too. Of course, in both instances, it's important to choose the right kind of fat. And the best option--hands-down--is monounsaturated fatty acids (or MUFAs, for short). You'll find MUFAs in nuts, macadamia nut oil, avocados, and dark chocolate, just to name a few--all delicious and decadent foods you can feel good indulging in (literally AND figuratively) as part of my New Hamptons Health Miracle! Until next time, Dr. Fred