Try adding these five mood-boosting foods to your daily diet.
- Salmon
Salmon is a nutritional powerhouse full of omega-3 fatty acids, a key nutrient that our bodies don’t produce on their own.
Omega-3 fatty acids are part of the membranes that surround cells in the body, particularly in the brain. Research has shown that consuming fish like salmon with omega-3 fatty acids may ease depression.
Salmon is also an inflammation-fighting food.
Increased inflammation in the body could play a role in depression, according to new research released in January.
2. Dark chocolate
A candy bar may leave you feeling blah after you eat it, but a piece of dark chocolate could give you a mood boost.
Dark chocolate may be giving not only your brain but also your immune system and eyes a real boost, research shows.
MORE: 9 ways to boost your mental health as the coronavirus pandemic continues
Be careful, though, with the chocolate you choose.
In their studies, researchers used dark chocolate with 70% cacao, a recipe reserved for the darkest of dark chocolate. This usually means the chocolate tastes more bitter than sweet because only 30% of the candy bar is sugar and milk.
- Berries
Fruits are all good for you as part of a balanced diet, but berries are particularly powerful for the brain. Berries are rich in flavonoid, which helps regulate mood and improve memory and reduces inflammation.
- Spinach and kale
Dark, leafy greens like spinach and kale are full of omega-3 fatty acids and are inflammation-fighting foods too. Greens are also rich in magnesium, which plays a major role in brain function and mood.
- Almonds
Almonds are a healthy fat, which boosts brain health. They are also rich in a compound called tyrosine, which has been found to prevent a decline in cognitive function, especially in response to stress.
