#2/2021 FORUM

#2/2021
Sports&Wellness
TheFood&MoodConnection
ByRicardoArikawa,BoardMember
Thepandemichasincreasedanxietyfor
many of us. For this reason, AmSoc
will present a series of wellness talks
with experts! On August 18, Rita Savoia,
Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Wellness &
Mindset Coach will speak to us about “The
Food & Mood Connection: How & What to
EatforMentalHealth!”.
MeettheAthlete
CompiledbyRicardoArikawa
JohnLezcano
Sports hero?
MikeTyson
Who inspired you
as a young athlete?
PatrickEwing
Rita will provide easy, simple and practical
tips to modify your eating & lifestyle habits
for boosting your mental health and overall
wellbeing. In this workshop, the following
topicswillbecovered:
• Increase your awareness of what
you’re eating & how it’s affecting
yourenergy&mood.
• How to take a holistic approach to
mental health with mindset, nutrition,andlifestyle.
• How to incorporate effective antianxiety,
anti-depression and stress
busting nutrients and the foods that
containthem.
• Triggerfoodstoavoidtoboostyour
mentalhealth.
• Lifestyle habits essential to reduce
stress and anxiety and promote
mentalandoverallwellbeing.
Staytunedformoreinformation!
Where there is poor mental health, there
is often a poor diet and digestive problems.
Mental health is a mind-body experience,
and the research is clear that there
is no doubt nutrition affects mental
health, through the gut-brain connection.
More specifically, recent studies prove
that 90% of the body’s serotonin, a chemical
responsible for mood & emotion, is
made in the gut.
Thegutalsoplaysanimportantroleincortisol
release, a chemical that is instrumental
in making sure your body effectively
responds to stress. So the connection betweenwhatyoueatandhowyoufeelisvalidated
by science, proving that nutritional
deficiencies may be at the root of your
mood and emotional imbalances. This is
why nutrition matters, and it’s the most
important, and often overlooked, missing
linktomentalhealthintoday’ssociety.
Mostofusdon’trealizehowmuchthefood
weeatcanimpactourbrainchemistry,influencing
our mood and emotions. You truly
are what you eat. The good news is that,
now more than ever, you can control how
andwhatyoueat,andenjoythemanyfoods
that foster increased emotional balance,
energyandmentalwellbeing.§
Favorite sport?
It’s a toss-up. I’m heavily into American
footballandbasketballbutIcanalsogladly
watchsnowboardingvideosalldaynonstop
ifIhadthetime.
How old were you when you started?
Roughly 12 years old. I played football in
middleschoolcampthroughhighschool.
What is your favorite team?
New York Jets J-E-T-S JETS-JETS-JETS!
ClosesecondbeingtheNewYorkKnicks.
Best part about competing?
That it does not matter where you came
from or your past. Everyone is on an equal
playingground.
Favorite movie about sports?
RememberTheTitans
If you could be instantly skilled at any
sport, which would it be?
BrazilianJiu-Jitsu
What emotions do you feel when you play
well? In the zone… you get the feeling that
youcan’tmiss!
Who do you wish was watching you
perform at every game or match?
Myfather
What other sport would you play?
Maybe something completely out-there.
Like drift diving or sky surfing... I like the
extreme!
Who was your favorite coach and why?
PatRiley–hewasoneofthosecoachesthat
understood that he needed to adapt to the
current situation and current team. He was
knownforhisnicesuitsandfancydemeanor
butwhenhecoachedtheKnickshebecame
a lot more gritty because that’s what was
needed to stand a chance against Jordan.
Also one of only 2 coaches to push Jordan
andTheBullsto7games.§
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