5 foods you should be eating to improve your mood
5 foods you should be eating to improve your mood. It can be tempting to turn to food whenever we’re feeling down.
However, many of us tend to reach for ones that are high in sugar and fat. And while this may make us feel good in the short term, it’s not good for out mental wellbeing.
It’s important to note that stress can come from a few factors, like environment, poor sleep or genetics. However, certain foods have been shown to improve brain health and elevate your mood.
Fatty Fish
Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of essential fats that you must obtain through your diet. This is because your body cannot produce them on its own.
Fatty fish like salmon or tuna are rich in two types of Omega-3 – docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. These are linked to lower levels of depression.
Omega-3s contribute to the fluidity of your brain’s cell membrane and can play key roles in brain development and cell signalling.
Dark Chocolate
Who doesn’t love a bit of chocolate? Chocolate may release a cascade of feel good compounds like caffeine and theobromine, which have been linked to elevating your mood.
However, there is debate as to whether it has enough of these compounds to make a difference. But, regardless, it’s high in flavonoids, which can increase blood flow to your brain, reduce inflammation and boost brain health.
Finally, chocolate has a high hedonic rate, meaning that it has a pleasurable taste, texture and smell, which can boost your mood further. Try to choose dark chocolate as it is lower in sugar.
Fermented Foods
Fermented foods – think yoghurt, kimchi, kombucha and kefir – may improve your gut health. The fermentation process allows live bacteria to thrive in foods. These bacteria can then convert sugar into alcohol and acids.
It’s during this process that probiotics are created. These live microorganisms support the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. A lot of serotonin is produced in your gut so having a healthy gut may correspond with a better mood.
Bananas
Turn your frown upside down with bananas. They are high in vitamin B6, helping to synthesise feel good transmitters like dopamine. Additionally, one large banana can contain 16 grams of sugar and 3.5 grams of fiber.
When paired with fiber, sugar is released slowly into the bloodstream, meaning your blood sugar levels are more staple. This in turn can help elevate your mood as low blood sugar levels are linked to irritability.
Oats
Oats are a wholegrain that will keep you in a good mood all morning long. They are a versatile little grain that can be enjoyed in many forms – overnight oats, granola, porridge or muesli.
They are an excellent source of fiber, which helps slow your digestion of carbs. This results in a gradual release of sugar into the bloodstream, keeping your energy levels staple. More staple blood sugar levels are important when it comes to controlling mood swings and irritability.
5 foods you should be eating to improve your mood
