Need a mood boost? 6 good foods for a good mood 😊
A lot of us turn to food to cheer us up when we’re feeling down - and we tend to pick those sugary, fatty or salty high-cal foods that probably aren’t the best for our waistline. 😥
But loads of foods are actually scientifically proven to be mood-boosters, and they’re surprisingly on the more healthy side. Turning to these healthy snacks to kick those blues could leave you feeling happier without the couch potato slump! 🥔
Here are 6 tasty foods that can elevate your mood:
Dark Chocolate 🍫
We’ve all heard of dark chocolate’s health benefits - it promotes brain function, can reduce inflammation, and is rich in flavonoids (antioxidants). What’s more, it can release feel-good compounds like N-acylethanolamine — a substance similar to cannabinoids which produces a lightened-mood effect. It’s also delicious, and way healthier than regular chocolate. 👍
Try out these dark chocolate recipes to give your mood a real good boost: Dark Chocolate & Orange Cake, Nut Fruit Bark and Bittersweet Chocolate Brownies. 😋
Yoghurt 🐄
Yoghurt and other fermented foods (kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut) are full of probiotics - microorganisms which contribute to a healthy gut. Research shows a link between a healthy gut and a healthy brain - probiotics may increase levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter which highly affects your mood. ✌️
Marinate your chicken in yoghurt or prepare yourself a yoghurt tzatziki for your after work snack. 🐔
Bananas 🍌
Bananas are a great source of both fibre and sugar, and the two paired together are a stabilizer for blood sugar levels as well as mood. They also contain prebiotics: a food for the healthy gut bacteria we mentioned previously. 🐒
Bake your way to banana heaven with Mint’s signature recipe or whip up your own smoothie with this handy blog. ✍️
Oats 🌾
Oats and other whole grains are loaded with B-vitamins which all play a role in mood-boosting: vitamin B1 increases energy levels, vitamin B6 helps to convert the amino acid tryptophan into serotonin, and vitamin B12 is involved in the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. So basically happy chemicals that make us well… happy! 🙋
Check out these porridge recipes or grab yourself a Purple Power from Dr Juice. 🥤
Nuts and Seeds 🥜
Almonds, cashews, peanuts, sesame and sunflower seeds are all great sources of tryptophan, which we need in order to produce serotonin. Walnuts, flax and chia seeds are also high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked to improved brain functioning and lower levels of depression. That’s nuts! 🤪
Amp up your nut factor with this recipe by local nut butter expert, Munch A Bunch or order a Chicken Satay Skewers from Genki. 🥢
Leafy Greens 🥦
Vegetables like spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts and asparagus are high in the B-vitamin folate, which has been associated with lower levels of depression. Folate deficiency impairs the metabolisms of mood-important neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and acetylcholine. 🤙
Make yourself a leafy poke bowl with tonnes of fresh fish, or get one sent to from PO-K via WOLT. 🚚
Add these happy booster ingredients to your weekly menu and daily diet, you never know your mood might be a lot brighter these next few weeks! 😄
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