When you feel low, an easy go-to is comfort food, which usually means junk food. We turn to convenient options, like frozen or pre-packaged food items, just to cut ourselves some slack. And while this is great sometimes, other times, it might not really be helping you feel that much better.
However, you can gain just as much comfort from simple whole foods, like eggs, asparagus, and prosciutto. Plus, this dish might just make you feel fancy (minus tons of work!).
On top of this, this mental health recipe is perfect for any time of the day. You can have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. So, what does this recipe entail exactly? Let’s take a look!
Contrary to popular belief, eggs have a lot going for them. No, they don’t cause heart disease like we used to think. In fact, they might just prevent it. The truth is that eggs are jam-packed with tons of nutrients, some of which we often don’t get elsewhere.
And this poached egg recipe is a great way to enjoy eggs in all their glory! So, how can you make this?
The good news: It’s really not that hard (even poaching eggs isn’t as tricky as it looks!).
If poached eggs aren’t your thing, fried or scrambled eggs also work here! You can also amp up the nutritional content of this recipe by adding other veggies, such as mushrooms or peppers to your base.
As mentioned above, eggs have a ton of value when it comes to our mood and health.
But eggs aren’t the only food working their magic here. Asparagus also add some great nutrients, ensuring your mental and physical health stays on track. So, let’s dig a bit deeper! How do these foods help alleviate depression?
Interestingly, vitamin D deficiencies are linked with mental health issues. Known as the sunshine vitamin, we actually get most of our vitamin D from the good ol’ sun! Yet, during the darker months of the year, many people don’t get enough sunshine and, thus, do not get enough vitamin D.
Luckily, eggs can help. Just two eggs contain over 80% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin D.
Eggs are excellent sources of vitamin B5 and vitamin B12.
Research shows that these B vitamins play a vital role in brain health and mood. In fact, chronic stress actually depletes vitamin B, leaving us moody and low on energy. Thus, it’s undeniably important that we get enough of these if we intend to improve our mental state.
Related Article: You Can Get Out From Under the Heavy Weight of Depression
First up, asparagus is high in folate. There’s a ton of evidence indicating that individuals with depression have low folate levels. But there’s more when it comes to asparagus.
Asparagus is also high in an amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan is shown to boost serotonin, which makes us feel good and may fight depression and anxiety.
Although this recipe only contains a bit of parmesan cheese garnish, cheese is a wonderful way to obtain the amino acid tyrosine.
Tyrosine actually gets converted into norepinephrine and dopamine, which can alleviate a bad mood and make you feel better. It’s even thought to have stress-reducing effects, aiding in reducing anxiety in your life.
Related Article: Your Ultimate Mindfulness Guide: Become More Happy and Less Stressed
Protein is essential for repairing and restoring tissues throughout the body.
As explored above, various amino acids (which make up protein) play a role in our neurotransmitter and hormone function. Protein is further excellent for regulating blood sugar levels as it slows down digestion. This keeps your energy and mood stable, ensuring you don’t have any low-lows or high-highs.
If you want to amp the protein up in this dish further, you can add a few more eggs or slices of prosciutto!
If you don’t want to put too much effort into your next meal and want to feel better mentally, this asparagus with poached eggs and prosciutto recipe might quickly become a staple in your diet. With a lot of nutritional goodness (and tastiness!), this isn’t one you’ll ever regret making.
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