10 Foods That May Boost Your Mood
by Tracy Shaw
Looking for ways to boost your mood? There are plenty of foods out there that may help! Here are healthy foods that may boost your mood. The 2023 Back To School Campaign has raised $16,000 for the Foundation For Fresh Produce to support children’s accessibility to fresh fruits and vegetables thanks to our amazing partners, like Shuman Farms.
Back to school season is exciting, but let’s be honest, it’s stressful too! Between all the things that have to be done before school starts, back to school shopping, and don’t forget about the meal planning! Just thinking about it can give everyone a bit of anxiety or just make you feel down and over-whelmed. Have you found yourself feeling a bit down lately? Everyone struggles with feelings of sadness and feeling down from time to time. Did you know that there are foods that you can eat that will boost your mood? It’s true! I am going to share 10 of them, but there are many more! Be sure to comment below with the foods that you have found that boost your mood.
10 foods that can boost your mood and make you feel better
Berries
You probably already know that berries are a superfood, packed full of healthy immune-boosting antioxidants, but did you know they can also boost your mood? Berries contain a phytochemical known as quercetin which acts as a natural antidepressant by suppressing monoamine oxidase (MAO) an enzyme known for causing depression.
Fatty Fish
Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel are great for boosting your mood, and they are good for your heart too. Fatty fish and shrimp are full of omega-3 fatty acids, these fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and can cross directly into your brain giving you a near immediate boost in mood.
Sweet Onions
Sweet onions are full of antioxidants, are a great source of vitamin C, can help maintain blood sugar, and may prevent Alzheimer’s. Sweet onions also contain anti-inflammatory properties, and the sulfoxides (sulfur-containing compounds) in them promote sleep, and reduce feelings of stress and depression. Adding more onions to your meals is an easy way to boost your mood! Looking for ways to add onions to your diet? Try our Vidalia Onion Dressing, it’s the most popular salad dressing recipe on the site! And toss onions on top of the salad 😉 We also love this Easy Baked Onion recipe…I ate the whole onion as soon as it came out of the oven…SO good! It tastes exactly like french onion soup…maybe even better.
Brazil Nuts
Brazil nuts are chock full of selenium, a powerful and very important mineral for immune function and the healthy production of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones play a very important role in mood-regulation.
People with both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can suffer from depression and mood disorders, selenium from Brazil nuts, or organ meats can help keep your thyroid functioning properly, and keep you feeling happy.
Dark Chocolate
Not only is dark chocolate tasty, but it is also good for you, and can help to boost your mood! Chocolate contains natural serotonin, antioxidants, and mood boosting flavonoids. Consuming small amounts of dark chocolate regularly can decrease your risks of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. You should opt for dark chocolate without a lot of sugar, most nutritionists recommend a cacao level of 70% or higher. Try these Dark Chocolate Avocado Brownies for a boost of chocolate and nutrients, the whole family is bound to love them…plus they are a fun treat in school lunches.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are tiny, but they sure do pack a punch! This little superfood is filled with magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, micronutrients, protein, and fiber. A diet low in magnesium can contribute to physical weakness and feelings of depression. You can incorporate chia seeds into your diet by adding them to smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, or salads.
Bananas
Bananas are shaped like a bright, sunny smile so it should come as no surprise that they can help to improve your mood if you are feeling down. Bananas are full of potassium and vitamin B6. B vitamins are important for your body to be able to produce serotonin, a mood-regulating hormone.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are a complex carbohydrate that is full of nutrients and fiber. They are also full of magnesium, in fact, one ounce of pumpkin seeds contains half of the recommended daily allowance. Diets high in magnesium can reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Oysters
You’ve probably heard that oysters have aphrodisiac qualities, but that’s not all that they are good for. Oysters are full of zinc, in fact, they contain the most zinc of ANY food. Zinc deficiency is a well-known cause of anxiety and depression. Oysters also contain the amino acid called tyrosine, which helps the body to produce dopamine, which makes you feel happy.
If you aren’t fond of or are allergic to shellfish, you can also get a combination of zinc and tyrosine from eggs and legumes, though it is a smaller quantity.
Green and Black Tea
Simply sitting and calmly sipping on a cup of hot tea can do wonders for soothing your mind and boosting your mood. Need some help breathing and getting into a relaxing state of mind? We love the Calm app! We use it weekly here as a team! Beyond just taking a moment to relax though, green and black tea also contains a compound that is known to improve your mood called L-theanine. L-theanine works best when it is consumed with caffeine, even in small amounts, so a cup of black or green tea is the perfect way to add it to your diet.
These are just ten of the foods that you can include in your diet to help boost your mood. If you find yourself feeling down and need a quick pick me up, have a bite of chocolate and a cup of tea. Then consider adding more of all these mood boosting foods to your diet and see if you don’t find yourself feeling happier, less stressed, and less anxious!
