Food for thought

Bahrain-based teenager Paula Madrid Camacho is whisking up wholesome treats for all to boost the mind, body and soul in a bid to raise awareness about nutrition and healthy eating for a better well-being.

Two years ago, the 16-year-old from Saar set herself on a mission to help people get fit, healthy and energised after noticing how changes in her regimen helped shape her.

“I started getting into my new lifestyle of healthy eating purely because I wanted a healthy body and a healthy mind,” said the Venezuelan who has participated in triathlons, duathlons, Ironman and more.

She was inspired to change the way she eats thanks to her sporting mum Maria Alejandra, who is currently a swimming and running coach that has completed eight marathons, one Ironman and a number of triathlons too.

“As I improved my eating habits, it provided me with all the energy needed to keep active throughout the day and provided me with the proper nutrients for growth and repair while also helping me to stay strong,” she added. “I also noticed fewer mood fluctuations and had an overall happier outlook. It even improved my ability to focus.”

That does not surprise psychologist Mariam Alammadi, who is the founder of the Child & Family Foundation Centre and general secretary of the Middle East Psychological Association, as she believes that food affects moods and overall well-being.

“I have found the best results in my own patients when they undertake therapy is while exercising and eating a balanced diet,” she said. “The three elements work holistically. I believe that the physical and mental issues are all health-related and shouldn’t be separated from each other during treatment.

“Research has suggested that diets that have a lot of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains actually help improve our overall mood and boost feelings of happiness. It can also help reduce symptoms of depression. When you stick to a diet of healthy food, you tend to have fewer mood fluctuations, an overall happier outlook and an improved ability to focus.”

For example, the Mediterranean diet not only helps improve the mood but it also helps cognitive abilities later in life. It can be suggested as an approach to help lessen the risk of dementia.

There is a strong correlation between low levels of Vitamin B and increased rates of anxiety and depression. Vitamin C deficiency is widely associated with stress-related diseases and getting enough vitamin C may improve your mood and reduce anxiety.

“Nearly 20 different studies found that taking a magnesium supplement improved all measures of anxiety,” Mariam added. Paula understands the connection well as she has contributed to Ted Talks in Bahrain about the mind’s influence on food and nutritional talks about healthy lifestyles.

After bountiful research, she gathered the best products and ingredients to create Boost Balls on Instagram.

“I came up with the idea around March 2020 and started out by gifting them to family and friends after someone had told me that my products improved their diet and helped them start a healthier lifestyle,” said the St Christopher’s School student.

“It gave me the idea to start a business and while selling my products, I plan to increase awareness about health. My inspiration was to come up with a simple guilt-free snack that gives an energy boost!”

All her protein balls, cookies, bars and granola are homemade and packed with goodness, based on her research.

“Key nutrients that you get in certain foods can influence the levels of feel-good hormones such as serotonin,” she explained.

According to the News Medical website, serotonin helps to control sleep and appetite, inhibit pain and to regulate mood. About 95 per cent of the serotonin is produced in the gut, which is rich in neurons. Thus, the gut is intimately involved in emotional regulation, pain perception and vital physiological functions.

Dates, which is Paula’s main ingredient, is one of the several fruits and vegetables that contains tryptophan, which is a building block to creating mood-boosting serotonin.

“My products are made with superfoods and whole foods that are high in protein with healthy carbs, fats and fibre to help build lean muscle mass, boost energy and aid weight maintenance,” she added.

Aside from sharing her love for food through her healthy treats, she aims to continue to spread awareness about living a healthy lifestyle with other nutritionists.

“We need to help and support each other as a community, especially now with Covid-19,” she added.

For details, follow

@Boost_balls on Instagram.