Hunting for a bag of chips when you’re feeling low, and gobbling it down without guilt may seem a lot like you, but do you really feel better after it all? It may sound crazy, but eating your way to a better mood is actually possible thanks to nature, which has provided several different food options to choose from to boost mood naturally.
Here are the 5 best mood boosting foods you must try to reach for when you’re feeling low- have them and see the difference.
Yogurt
Yogurt is known to be packed with beneficial bacteria, and is one of the most frequently consumed probiotic options. It is also an excellent natural source of vitamin B12, which is required for the formation of red blood cells. Many studies have found that the deficiency of vitamin B12 can increase the risk of depression and stress.
What’s best is the fact that yogurt is extremely versatile- it can be included in almost all food preparations, and can be consumed plain as well!
Chocolate
Chocolate is definitely one of the best mood boosting foods you could try. Having a couple of bites of dark chocolate a day can also keep your sweet tooth satiated, and at the same time, control your mood better. Many studies have revealed that dark chocolate works by reducing the levels of cortisol- a stress hormone, and can also help reduce anxiety.
Melting some dark chocolate and dipping some fresh fruits it in can be a superb healthy dessert option to try.
Spinach
Spinach is well known for its iron content, but apart from that, this green leafy vegetable also contains many important nutrients. It contains depression fighting folates and magnesium which helps relieve anxiety. It is also known to contain zinc, the deficiency of which could cause an increased risk of depression.
Try to include more of this veggie by sneaking it into your salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes.
Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are known to be packed with the best nutritional benefits any seeds could contain, which is why, they’ve earned the title ‘superfood.’ It has also been found that the consumption of these seeds could reduce the risk of depression by a good percentage thanks to its omega 3 fatty acid content. Infact, the polyunsaturated fat content of flaxseeds also work in treating depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and many other psychological health disorders.
Try to include more flaxseeds into your diet by grinding them and adding them to your homemade cookies, cereal or a glass of smoothie.
Lentils
Lentils are among the best natural sources of folic acid, which is a key nutrient helpful for tackling depression. Most lentils also contain appreciable amounts of vitamins, particularly vitamin B12, which contributes to better brain and psychological health. Infact, optimum levels of this vitamin in the body is also thought to help improve the efficiency of antidepressant medications.
Simply add more of garbanzo, navy, kidney, pinto and black beans to your diet to get the maximum benefits.
