HEALTHY MEALS FOR THE HOME OFFICE

Our brain deals with a heavy workload every day because it’s responsible for controlling almost every process in the body. Processing information with its billions of nerve cells accounts for around one-fifth of our daily energy requirements. You can support this with the right nutrition while you’re working at home. According to studies, sugar and wheat gluten reduce the ability to concentrate, whereas other foods boost your grey matter:

• Complex carbohydrates (wholegrain products, rice, maize, millet, potatoes, fruit, lentils, beans, peas, quinoa etc.)
• Omega 3 fatty acids (in salmon, herring, mackerel and sardines, as well as oils like linseed, walnut and hemp)
• Water (including infusions, herbal tea, ginger tea etc.)

• Nuts: nuts contain lots of B vitamins including the nerve vitamin niacin (B3), as well as magnesium and Vitamin E (which protects the cells) – making them the perfect snack to keep you going between meals

• Paprika: paprika contains twice the amount of Vitamin C found in lemons, making it a great way to top up Vitamin C after stressful experiences. It also provides magnesium and iron to combat fatigue.  

• Spinach: spinach gives the nervous system a boost with calcium, Vitamin B6, potassium and magnesium.

• Cocoa: dark chocolate with high cocoa content contains tryptophan, an amino acid that is converted into the happiness hormone serotonin in our bodies, which lowers our stress levels. Dark chocolate is also a great source of magnesium.

• Bananas: like dark chocolate, bananas contain the amino acid tryptophan needed by our body to make serotonin, the happiness hormone. They are also packed full of Vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.