Foods That Improve Your Mood
Even the happiest people get down in the dumps occasionally. And while eating when you are stressed is generally frowned upon, it’s OK if you’re eating the right foods since they can lessen tension and improve your mood. Yes, you can actually eat your way to happiness. From avocado to watermelon, find out eight foods that will pump up a man’s sex drive. Certain foods, such as chocolate and berries, act similarly to valporic acid, a common mood-stabilizing drug. “The large body of evidence that chemicals in chocolate, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, teas and certain foods could well be mood-enhancers encourages the search for other mood modulators in food,” says Karina Martinez-Mayorga, who led the American Chemical Society’s research team that found the valporic acid connection. While food is never a substitute for medicine, it can be a quick pick-me-up if the menu is carefully chosen. Cosmopolitan magazine offers 10 foods for a better mood:
1. Dark chocolate
Why it’s a mood-booster: Dark chocolate–but not milk chocolate–helps reduce anxiety and depression.
2. Salmon
Why it’s a mood-booster: It fights depression, helps memory and improves focus.
3. Spinach
Why it’s a mood-booster: It protects against free radicals that contribute to low energy and mood swings.
4. Chicken
Why it’s a mood-booster: Vitamin B12 in the white meat has a calming effect.
5. Tofu
Why it’s a mood-booster: This soy product is great for relaxing tired muscles.
6. Avocado
Why it’s a mood-booster: Not only does it contain a mood-boosting serotonin, but also avocado is great for your skin, hair and nails.
7. Greek yogurt
Why it’s a mood-booster: Probiotics improve your mood and boost the immune system.
8. Green tea
Why it’s a mood-booster: The theanine in green tea is a calming agent.
9. Berries
Why it’s a mood-booster: The nutrients in blueberries, strawberries and raspberries help reduce stress and ease depression.
10. Walnuts
Why it’s a mood booster: Like salmon, walnuts are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which help fight off depression and mood swings.