Beat the dieting blues

Get physical
Research shows that getting active can be more effective than popping a pill to treat mild depression. Exercising more than three times a week increases levels of natural mood-enhancing endorphins, plus working out is proven to help lower stress levels and improves sleep-quality.

Feel-good foods
Studies show that eating a diet rich in tryptophan, a chemical which produces mood-boosting seratonin in the brain, can naturally help perk you up when you're feeling down. Try to load up on lean meat, pineapple, plums, nuts, avocadoes and dairy products which are all packed with the chemical.

The big breakfast
As KATE MOSS admits she rolls straight out of bed and into her local café for an English fry-up, surveys show that consuming more than half our calories in the morning encourages weight loss, as it revs up the metabolism. Breakfast is also a great stress-buster, with oats and grainy breads being the best mood boosters.

Magic minerals
Starchy refined foods like white bread, pasta and rice can create sugar swings that lead to anxiety, stress and irritability. Ditch the carbs for foods high in magnesium and calcium such as dark leafy green veg, pulses and dried fruit which are proven to help have a calming effect.

Sounds fishy
Can't concentrate at work? Whilst omega-3 oils help protect against heart disease, boost brain power and energy levels, scientists say eating foods rich in the essential fatty acid like salmon, mackerel and herring, at least twice a week like Renee Zellweger does, can ward off depression.

Don't feel guilty
Depriving yourself of your favourite foods, is not only likely to make you unhappy, but ultra low-fat diets can lower your cholesterol to an unhealthy level which has been linked to depression and anxiety. Remember, successful diets allow you to enjoy the foods you love in moderate amounts - guilt free.