Feeling down or stressed out? Everyone has their sad moments, and believe it or not, food plays a BIG role in one’s mood.
Recent developments in science have proven that there is a Food Mood connection, proving that what we eat affects more than our physical bodies, it affects our mind. According to a Harvard Study, a randomized, controlled trial of a dietary intervention for adults with major depression (aka the “SMILES” trial), diet CAN have a positive effect on one’s mood.
Serotonin, the “happy hormone,” is a neurotransmitter that helps your body regulate sleep, appetite, moods, and pain. Considering that approximately 95% of your serotonin is made in your gastrointestinal tract, it makes sense that your digestive system doesn’t just help you to digest food, it helps to digest your emotions too.
Try incorporating these 9 mood-boosting foods into your diet to give your mood a boost!
9 Foods to Boost Your Mood:
Lentils ~ Blood-sugar moderating fiber, energizing iron, and calming magnesium.
Berries ~ Mental clarity.
Beets ~ Folate increases blood flow to the brain and relaxes blood vessels.
Broth ~ Hydration, which is key for mental clarity.
Mushrooms ~ Good source of vitamin D which is linked to a cheery mood!
Millet ~ This whole grain packs the punch of mood-boosters including protein, B vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc.
Walnuts ~ They look like little brains, so it’s no wonder that they help the brain stay happy by delivering omega-3s, whose anti-inflammatory actions can relieve depression.
Salmon ~ Another source of omega-3s. Opt for wild not farm raised.
Cabbage ~ Good source of tryptophan and selenium, both of which relax your body and mind.
I encourage you to take a moment to check in with yourself and your body to recognize how you feel after eating certain foods, especially Good Mood Foods like the ones above. Happy Eating! XoXo Tatiana