Happy Foods – Foods That Make You Feel Better
If you’ve been feeling down in the dumps lately, try eating happy foods to boost your mood. There are a variety of tasty and nutritious foods that make you feel better. Learn about happy foods to include in your diet, and which foods to avoid that bring your mood down.
Green Vegetables Spinach, cabbage, greens, broccoli, and asparagus are happy foods that will help lift your mood because they are rich in folic acid. Research has demonstrated that folic acid, also referred to as folate, helps prevent mood disorders. If you drink alcohol or take oral contraceptives, increase your intake of green vegetables even more because these items contribute to folic acid deficiencies.
Sea Foods The ocean is filled with happy foods. Lobster, crab, and fish contain high levels of vitamin B12, another important nutrient known to make us feel better by enhancing our mood. Low levels of vitamin B12 have been linked to depression, so make sure you get vitamin B12 daily. If you are not a sea food lover, you could get an adequate supply of vitamin B12 from beef, eggs, and cheese. For people maintaining vegan diets it is essential to purchase breakfast cereals and vegan milk, such as almond, rice, or coconut milk that is fortified with vitamin B12.
Dark Chocolate If you crave chocolate, go ahead and give in to the temptation. Dark chocolate is a happy food that will make you feel better and satisfy your sweet tooth. Just don’t go overboard. Limit yourself to 2 ounces or less of quality dark chocolate. It has a positive effect on our mood because it contains tryptophan and magnesium which are mood-lifting compounds. Eating dark chocolate will quickly improve your mood. Moreover, studies show that chocolate lowers blood pressure and benefits general well-being.
Sunflower Seeds Sunflower seeds are the perfect happy food. They are rich in magnesium and folic acid. They also contain tryptophan, which supports serotonin production and contributes to improving a depressed mood. Eat sunflower seeds anytime you are looking to feel better. They promote relaxation and calmness. Added benefits of sunflower seeds are that they are rich in protein and help protect against cancer.
While you are eating to feel better, make sure you limit or avoid foods that are high in saturated fat. Saturated fat plays a role in depression and negatively affects overall health. It is equally important to reduce your consumption of alcoholic beverages, coffee, and soda.
Feel better now by including delicious and nutritious happy foods in your daily diet.
