Does food affect our mood?

Honestly, I had no idea that food would affect my overall "happiness factor". None. This is one of the biggest things I've learned over the past 17 days.

Backstory - I am on a 21 day cleanse. Basically a total reset of my body. I eat 3 meals a day and have my shake as a snack but 30 minutes before each meal, I drink 24oz of mineralized water and take some supplements. I also do not have any caffeine or beverages other than water and the occasional herbal tea.

The food I am currently eating is completely vegan. Fruit for breakfast. Salad with nuts for lunch and veggies such as stir fry, baked yam, squash, cauliflower and broccoli for dinner with the occasional brown rice or quinoa.

I keep getting asked, "do you feel weak without protein?" My answer is a very resounding "hell no". To be completely honest, I do not remember the last time I felt this good.

I have struggled over the past 2+ years watching the number on the scale go up. It was slowly moving, but it was moving and I was trying everything I could to stop it or make it go the other way. I spent a solid 2 months strictly following a nutrition plan that works so well for Clarissa - nothing. I worked out like crazy and kept my nutrition at about 90% - nothing. I seriously felt like throwing in the towel and just accepting that I am almost 45 and that quite possibly my hormones and age were playing a huge role.

In just 14 days I was down 7 pounds. I also had this new energy for life. I feel so ALIVE. I do not have coffee in the morning. I no longer have my 3pm crash. My head feels clear and focused. I have abundant energy. And from what I can tell, this is all because of the food I am eating. I am happier, because my body is happier!

I remember going to an event in the fall where the speaker talked about how we struggle with depression and most often that struggle can be fixed just with the food we put in our bodies. If we eat like crap, we will feel like crap and that will show up in every area of our lives. I knew that before and for the most part, I ate very well. To know how I feel now though, I will definitely stay "dialled in" in the nutrition department for ..... ever!

The questions I am getting asked now are "will you go back to coffee?" Or "will you add meat back in?" I'm a definite no for the meat; coffee .... maybe just the weekends .... we'll see!