The food we eat doesn’t just affect our waistline – it can also greatly impact our mood. Everything we eat is broken down and absorbed by our body and this, in turn, affects how we feel.
6 Mood-Boosting Foods:
1. Fermented foods. Fermented foods are great for the health of the good bacteria in your gut. These bacteria play an important part in mental and physical health. Some examples of fermented foods include sauerkraut, kimchi, yoghurt, kefir, and tempeh.
- You don’t need to eat very much of any of these – a forkful of sauerkraut with your meal each day can make a difference to your gut bacteria. Similarly, a few tablespoons of yoghurt each day is great too (there are non-dairy yoghurts and kefir available if you cannot eat dairy). I like to change the different fermented foods that I consume so that I’m not eating just the one type all the time.
2. Chocolate. Who doesn’t love chocolate? It only takes one bite of chocolate to know that it makes you feel better! Dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa (70% or higher) is quite healthy when eaten in moderation and can give your mood a great boost.
- Chocolate reduces cortisol, too, which is a primary indicator of stress.
3. Leafy greens. Leafy greens are high in magnesium, which has been shown to reduce anxiety. As a general rule, the darker greens like spinach and kale are healthier than lighter greens like lettuce. Try a mixture of greens to get the greatest benefit.
4. Nuts. Nuts are loaded with healthy fats, proteins, and even some fibre. The most important nutrient found in nuts regarding mood is tryptophan which is used to produce the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is one of the positive-mood brain chemicals.
5. Fruit. Bananas in particular have been shown to boost mood, but all fruits are worth trying out as a mood enhancer. Fruit are full of vitamins, minerals, and fibre, and can give your blood sugar a boost.
6.Green Tea. Green tea can be a healthy drink that boosts your mood. One of the chemicals found in green tea that induces calmness is EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate. The small amount of caffeine found in green tea is also good for your mood.
The above is certainly not an exhaustive list of mood-boosting foods. The foods you eat do have an effect on your mood, focus, and emotional health. Try to eat at least one food each day that is likely to have a positive impact on your mood.
Track how your mood is affected by the foods you eat. It won’t take long before you know which foods to eat and which to avoid.
Meal Planning Made Simple:
