This Article is From Oct 10, 2017

Positive Mood May Make Flu Shots More Effective: 5 Foods That Can Cheer You Up Naturally

Being in a positive mood on the day of your flu jab can increase its protective effect

Positive Mood May Make Flu Shots More Effective: 5 Foods That Can Cheer You Up Naturally

Planning to go for a flu shot? Make sure you go forth with a happy mood. It may be a tad tough task to maintain a cheerful mood with all the weakness that comes with a flu, but according to a new study being in a positive mood on the day of your flu jab can increase its protective effect.

According to the study published in the journal Brain, Behaviour and Immunity also revealed that flu vaccination is estimated to only be effective in 17-53 per cent of older adults compared to 70-90 per cent of younger people.

"Vaccinations are an incredibly effective way of reducing the likelihood of catching infectious diseases. But their Achilles heel is that their ability to protect against disease is affected by how well an individual's immune system works," said Kavita Vedhara, Professor at University of Nottingham in Britain.

"So people with less effective immune systems, such as the elderly, may find vaccines don't work as well for them as they do in the young," she added.

For the study, the team studied negative mood, positive mood, physical activity, diet and sleep of the participants three times a week over a six week period in a group of 138 older people due to have their flu jab.

Following this, the team examined how well the jab was working by measuring the amount of influenza antibody in the blood at four weeks and 16 weeks after the vaccination.

The findings revealed that positive mood over the six week observational period played a detrimental part in how the jab worked. The team concluded that a good mood could have a deeper association with higher levels of antibody.

In fact on the day of vaccination itself, the researchers found an appreciable effect of how well it worked, accounting for between eight and 14 per cent of the variability in antibody levels.

The researchers then pointed towards how psychological and behavioural factors such as stress, physical activity and diet may have much a deeper link with the wellbeing of immunity.

Some foods are known to transform your mood because of certain compounds that they contain. A lot of research has shown that our diet can affect our mood. Here are foods that can lift your mood instantly.

1.Honey

Honey contains kaempferol and quercetin, which helps to prevent depression by reducing inflammation in the brain. It can be considered as a sweet natural defence which helps you feel better. Honey also helps in boosting energy production in the brain.

2.Cherries

They can actually work like painkillers and make you feel relaxed. They're low in calories and high on fibre. Cherries are a great source of melatonin a hormone that helps you sleep well. It's good to gorge on a few before you go to bed.

3.Fatty Fish

Fish that contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids like mackerel, snapper can help in curbing mood swings. Various scientific studies have linked consumption of fish to reduced risk of depression.

4.Beetroot

They are great sources of B vitamin folate that helps in boosting your mood. Beets are also packed with betaine. Betaine is used by our brain to produce SAM-e that acts as natural anti-depressant.

5.Chocolate

You saw this coming. Didnt you? The antioxidants present in chocolate help in reducing high levels of stress hormones. Dark chocolate contains a compound called anandamide that can make you feel good and is also known to temporarily block feelings of pain and sadness.

(Inputs IANS)

 

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