At times when we feel sad and depressed, we can barely open our eyes in the morning; we get exhausted by midday and feel particularly melancholic in the late evening. And if there is no specific reason affecting your mood, then it’s probably your body reacting to the things you eat. Yes, foods play an important role in stabilizing your mental health and boosting your energy levels. You can only feel healthy when you eat healthy, so here is a list of 7 mood-boosting healthy foods that you shouldn’t opt out from your diet.
The good news is you can manage your mood since morning. Just make yourself a nice bowl of oatmeal porridge. Oatmeal, like any whole grain cereals, copes with bad mood due to vitamins, such as B6 and B1 as well as folic and pantothenic acids. In addition, oats contain low amounts of carbohydrates; this may potentially decrease one’s insulin levels. Consequently, this healthy food digest quite slowly hence eliminating any mood swings and balancing out the refined carbohydrates in your system; for example, sugar. Get creative: add some honey or almond butter, dates and strawberries, sprinkle some cinnamon and you are good to go!
A handful of almonds provides you with the necessary dose of vitamin B6, which is beneficial for your nervous system and has a calming effect. It brings together two important elements, tryptophan and serotonin, both associated with mood improvement. Great news for my gourmands out here: the traditional fancy combination of cheese and nuts for dessert is not only super tasty but also very healthy.
It’s almost impossible to resist a quick and tasty snack you find in your fridge when coming home after a long nerve-wracking day. But don’t rush and make it healthy: smack some pre-made mashed avocado on a wholemeal toast, and you will feel a charge of energy and strength for the rest of the evening. Avocado is your number one healthy food: daily consumption of one half of the fruit contributes to the improvement of your general health state. It reduces the risk of developing cancer and contains a great amount of monounsaturated (healthy) fats that may facilitate the weight loss process. If that didn’t sound convincing enough, avocado serves as a classy alternative for the old-school dips such as mayo, ketchup or salsa.
This fruit is considered to be one of the most effective natural antidepressants. Aside from a great portion of serotonin, it contains enough B6 vitamin to both improve your hair and skin and prevent the instances of rapid mood swings and chronic fatigue. Moreover, bananas are full of a certain type of alkaloid known as mescaline; it functions as a natural psychedelic. It gives you a feeling of complete satisfaction by significantly improving vitality and mental wellness. One medium-sized banana along with your morning oatmeal porridge and you are off to a good start!
Rumour has it the colors in the red spectrum (including the color orange) obtain a therapeutic effect. Since bright and saturated colors are associated with vivacity, activity, and vigor, it can simply take a few oranges to make you look at life more optimistically. Just the smell of oranges can boost your mood and distract you from all the negativity. This healthy food is known to strengthen the immune system and reduce the level of cholesterol in your body. Orange juice, on the other hand, is recommended for the improvement of the nervous system due to its anti-bacterial and toning effects. One orange to sweeten up your day!
Spinach leaves are capable of compensating for folic acid deficiency, which affects the amount of serotonin in your body. In simple terms, this vegetable can make you feel a little bit more happy and a little bit more relaxed. Cooked spinach is an ideal healthy side dish for your protein as well as an important ingredient in soup bases and casseroles. Besides, this healthy food is rich in magnesium, which brings on a calming sensation in your muscles. A portion of spinach along with your main can be especially effective after a workout.
The last but definitely not the least healthy foods on the list is chocolate. Believe it or not, chocolate is necessary for your body. Thanks to cocoa beans; they contain the substance called phenylethylamine, which contributes to the active development of endorphins – the natural hormones of happiness produced in the human’s body. In addition to its blissful taste, chocolate contains magnesium, which can protect the nervous system from unnecessary irritants. Make sure you don’t overeat: treat yourself with a piece or two a day and you’ll feel energized and happy.
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