6 Foods to Boost Your Mood
How are you feeling?
How are you feeling? Could your mental state use an uplift? What you are putting in your body could be contributing to the way you feel. I’m sure you have heard the famous quote from Hippocrates, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” This saying is something to live by. Before running off to the doctor, maybe ask yourself can I find something from nature that can heal me.
This goes for mental health as well. There has been a continuous rise in people having mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. Rather then beginning at the psychiatrists, try looking at your overall diet and add foods that are good for your mood. New research suggests getting the right foods into your diet regularly can shift your mental state. This includes taming your stress, reducing anxiety and fighting off depression. There are certain foods that can help give yourself a mental uplift.
Chocolate:
Studies show that dark chocolate helps with brain function and improvements in mood. Loaded with antioxidants, dark chocolate can help improve symptoms of anxiety and depression while making you feel calmer. To get the most out of your chocolate, look for chocolate that has at least 60% cacao in it.
Salmon:
Certain types of fish including salmon, sardines, tuna, halibut and mackerel are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids which can help with depression and anxiety. Studies show that omega’s have anti-inflammatory properties and effects the dopamine and serotonin production in your brain. Experts recommend eating fish 2 times per week for the most benefits. If you do not eat fish you can find omega 3’s in chia seeds and flax seeds.
Avocados:
Avocados are full of magnesium and B6 which helps the production of serotonin in the brain.
Leafy Greens:
Spinach, Chard, Collard Greens, Kale are loaded with magnesium which positively effecting serotonin levels and thus boosting your mood. Magnesium is known to help reduce anxiety and fight off depression.
Yogurt/Probiotics:
Probiotics are fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi and yogurt. Fermented foods helps to keep your gut working properly. There have been recent studies linking gut health to mood enhancement, less stress and anxiety and lower risk of depression. So, keep your gut cleaned out with probiotics rich foods.
Blueberries:
Blueberries are full of brain boosting benefits with their very high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C. Studies have shownthat the high level of flavonoids in the blueberries help improve memory, regulate mood and protect the brain from aging.
When I go on my weekly store runs or farmers market trips, I try and bring home all of these foods for my family so we can constantly make feeling good a normal thing.
Sources for this article include:
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/09/food-mental-health
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/2/158
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6147775/
