By Dr. Najma Shaikh
Certified Nutritionist | Lifestyle Coach | Founder – NS Nutricare (Pune)
In today’s fast-paced life, especially in cities like Pune, stress and anxiety have quietly become part of our daily routine. What most people don’t realize is that one of the simplest ways to balance our emotions is sitting right on our plate — our food.
Yes, your mood is what you eat.
Over the years as a Clinical Nutritionist and Lifestyle Coach, I’ve helped hundreds of individuals across Pune and India manage their emotional health naturally — not with supplements or pills, but by reworking their meals. Let me guide you through how you too can uplift your mood through food.
The Gut–Mind Connection: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science
In Ayurveda and modern science alike, the gut is considered central to your overall well-being. Did you know that your gut produces nearly 90% of your body’s serotonin, the hormone responsible for happiness?
That means if your gut isn’t happy, your mind can’t be either. Bloating, acidity, constipation, or irregular eating habits can directly affect how anxious or low you feel.
This is especially true in our Indian lifestyles, where long work hours, irregular meals, and excessive chai or junk food disrupt digestion and mental balance.
Indian Superfoods That Uplift Your Mood
You don’t need imported kale or avocado to feel better — our Indian kitchen is a treasure trove of mood-boosting foods.
🥥 1. Desi Fats: Coconut, Ghee & Groundnut Oil
- Supports brain health and reduces stress.
- Use pure cow ghee in your dal-chawal or rotis — in moderation.
🍌 2. Banana (Kela)
- A rich source of B6 and natural sugars for serotonin production.
- Eat mid-morning or as a pre-workout snack.
🧘♀️ 3. Curd (Dahi)
- A natural probiotic that balances gut health.
- Try a bowl of homemade curd with lunch — helps digestion and boosts mood.
🌾 4. Whole Grains: Jowar, Bajra, Brown Rice
- Keeps energy stable and reduces irritability.
- Replace maida-based rotis or bread with these for dinner.
🍫 5. Dark Chocolate (Indian Cocoa 70%)
- Boosts endorphins and improves mood.
- A small piece post-lunch works wonders!
Mood-Killing Habits We Often Ignore
These habits are common in busy lives, especially among young working professionals and new moms:
- ❌ Skipping breakfast
- ❌ Too much chai or coffee (more than 2 cups/day)
- ❌ Heavy dinners and late-night snacking
- ❌ Packaged namkeens, chips, and sugar-loaded biscuits
- ❌ Soft drinks and so-called ‘diet’ sodas
These cause sugar crashes, gut irritation, and unstable energy levels — directly impacting your mental clarity, focus, and emotional control.
🍽️ My Simple Everyday Tips (That Work for Pune’s Lifestyle)
- Follow a fixed meal time even on weekends.
Pune’s busy professionals often skip meals on workdays and overeat on holidays — avoid that. - Eat local, seasonal fruits.
Mangoes, chikoos, guavas, jamuns — nature’s anti-depressants! - Add fiber to every meal.
Include sabzis with the skin on, dals with sprouts, and fruits with peel when possible. - Stay hydrated – especially in Pune’s dry climate.
Aim for at least 8–10 glasses of water. Add a slice of lemon or tulsi for detox benefits. - Listen to your body – not the clock – for hunger and cravings.
A Note from Dr. Najma: Real Healing Begins with Real Food
I’ve worked with college students, new mothers, corporate employees, and homemakers across Pune, Mumbai, and Dubai — and one thing is common: food affects your feelings.
No medicine works better than food that’s right for your body type, lifestyle, and mental state.
If you’re feeling tired, anxious, emotionally low, or just not yourself — your food may be the first place to look. You don’t need a fancy diet. Just a personalized nutrition plan that suits you.
Let Food Be Your Therapy
Whether you’re in Kalyani Nagar, Hadapsar, Kharadi, or even outside Pune, I offer fully online nutrition consultations — convenient, customized, and effective.
💬 Let’s talk about your lifestyle, food choices, emotions, and health goals. I’ll help you connect the dots — naturally.
📱 Book your online consultation today
🌐 www.nsnutricare.com
📍 Online Consultations | Pune | PAN India | UAE
Follow me on Instagram @nsnutricare for easy recipes, emotional eating tips, and real client stories.
Let’s eat better. Feel better. Live better. 💚