This post offers details about why eating certain healthy foods can help brighten your outlook, improve your mood, and make you kick up your heels joyfully.
Favorite Foods for a
Good Mood
Sprinkling on a one teaspoon serving of unsweetened cocoa powder to cereal can activate endorphins, hormones that are released by the brain in response to pain or stress and produce a feeling of euphoria.
Endorphins improve cognitive function and increases serotonin levels too. I prefer to use a teaspoon of pure cocoa and make a cup of hot chocolate, as my dark chocolate treat of the day.
I'm sure that's why I feel so cheery yet calm after drinking just one cup.
BANANAS are high in vitamin B6, which helps synthesize feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
GINGER, which is the flavorful root of a plant, is effective in easing joint pain, and
is a natural anti-inflammatory.
SWEET POTATOES/YAMS are mood elevators, because they contain magnesium, a nutrient that supports the brain and nervous system. Scientific studies have found a connection between eating foods high in magnesium, and lowering symptoms of depression.
The substance that gives yellow and orange potatoes their hue is the antioxidant beta-carotene. Beta-carotene helps with reducing free radical damage to brain cells, prevents oxidative stress leading to DNA damage, and when lacking, appears to be common in emotional conditions such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
oven roasted sweet potato fries |
Carbohydrates in sweet potatoes help with serotonin production. For more read Favorite Fall Fruit and Veggies.
NUTS and SEEDS including Brazil nuts, almonds, and pine nuts are tasty sources of plant-based tryptophan, zinc, and selenium, and may support brain function and lower risk of depression. A 10-year study of 15,980 people linked moderate nut intake to a 23 percent lower risk of depression.
Deficiency in these minerals, which are important for brain function, is associated with higher rates of depression — although more research is needed.
unsalted nuts are good mood food |
I love to munch on 1/3 cup of unsalted raw nuts or seeds, as this is a tasty yet appropriate sized portion. Seeds and nuts are good sources of fiber, protein, and plant-based fat necessary for digestion, elimination, and energy.
Mood-boosting
serotonin found in almonds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds,
and sunflower seeds improves mood as well.
LEAFY GREENS and CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES including spinach, lettuce, watercress, arugula, chard, and kale are rich in folate and magnesium. These substances are important in helping to reduce anxiety and boost mood.
Other cruciferous veggies include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, and Brussels sprouts. They contain high amounts of chromium, which can increase levels of brain chemicals related to positive feelings, alertness, and energy. These veggies are loaded with fiber, which can help balance blood sugar levels and prevent that depressing blood sugar crash.
If you want to enhance your mood, please consider being more mindful and selective, when food shopping and with meal preparation.
Before you go, don't forget to comment below.
This post is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only and not for nutritional, physical health, or mental health advice. Please check with those professionals, if that is what you want or need.
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Did you learn something new about the relationship between mood and food? Please explain in the comments section below.
Do you think you'll add more of these foods now that you know they are mood elevators? Please let me know.
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Whoda thought? Cocoa sprinkled on cereal to boost my mood. Next time I have my (unsweetened whole grain) cereal I am going to dig out that tin of cocoa I have in the cupboard. And will add a banana--should be yummy and maybe make me chipper!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading your comment. It made me smile. Thanks for sharing and wish you a beautiful day.
DeleteThanks for the tips on foods to help mood.
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't want to feel a little more perky?
I agree with you Beth. Why not do a few simple changes, if it means improving our outlook? Wishing you a beautiful evening.
DeleteThe only one I can't imagine eating is bananas; I just do no like their flavor or texture.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit and comment Joanne. Wishing you a beautiful day.
DeleteNancy- thanks for sharing about your vegan lifestyle. Interestingly, I have the same background. I was a vegetarian for 42 years and 3 years ago I became vegan. I adore bananas and eat two everyday!
ReplyDeleteThanks Judee. I enjoy seeing your blog, Gluten Free A-Z Blog, with its creative vegan recipes and fun to know you eat two bananas every day.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Rajani. Wishing you a beautiful day.
DeleteI am not vegetarian or vegan, although our son and his family is vegan for the past 15 years or so! I do a lot of vegan food cooking etc when they visit as we will not serve anything but vegan then. I am happy with only vegan food and lately tend to gravitate more and more to vegan and love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you from your SSPS Team for sharing your links with us at #270 SSPS Linky.
If you have not as yet shared your IG and FB URL and handles, please email me at esme@esmesalon.com otherwise please ignore.
Thanks Esme. You are one considerate mom and your family must surely appreciates it. Love the SSPS blog parties and will be back again. Have a beautiful week and be well.
DeleteThis is very interesting. I'm going to start including more of these foods in my diet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna for the visit and comment. Please let me know if you notice an improvement in your mood. They are all healthy so if nothing else they will up your health quotient. Wishing you a beautiful day.
DeleteThis is a brilliant post, Nancy! Our moods are so affected by what we eat, and you have included such wonderful practical advice. I'm pleased to report I like all of these foods, except watercress, so it will be a real pleasure to add more of them to my diet. Thank you so much for sharing this post with Hearth and Soul. I will be featuring it at the September Edition of the party which goes live on Sunday 3rd September. Hope to see you there!
ReplyDeleteThanks April. I'm thrilled and honored to be a feature at the Sept. Hearth & Soul Party. Have a beautiful day and THANKS again.
DeleteWe are trying to eat more plant based - for health and the environment. Thanks for sharing at the what's for dinner party.
ReplyDeleteHi Helen and good morning, Have you noticed an improvement in your mood since you started to eat more plant based? Your body, the planet, and I appreciate it. Thanks for hosting What's for Dinner Sunday Link up and keep up the good work.
DeleteI love all the foods you mentioned. Thanks for sharing the mood enhancers.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn
https://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com
Thanks Jocelyn for the visit and comment. You must be in a good mood most of the time, if you eat them. Have a good night.
Delete