What you eat can make a difference in your mood
These 20 foods can calm your stress and help you get through the day.
Yogurt There is a link between what goes on in your gut and your mental health. One study showed that probiotics actually decreased anxiety in mice. Yogurt is full of living probiotics that can bring your gut back into balance.
Cashews If you’re feeling down, reach for a handful of cashews. These little nuts contain plenty of zinc which is helpful in fighting depression.
Avocados A deficiency in folic acid can send your mood plummeting. Eat folate-rich avocados for a healthy balance.
Kale Carotenoids are pigments found in many of the plants we eat, and they are also great for regulating emotional health. Kale has plenty of carotenoids to kick-start your happiness.
Cinnamon This delicious spice is actually a superfood that can do amazing things for your body. Cinnamon can help regulate blood sugar and even control your appetite. It also contains antioxidants that can benefit your mental health.
Whole Grain Carbs The reason carbohydrates are considered comfort foods is that they can boost your serotonin level. Eating some carbs can be a great mood booster, but stick to whole grains. Simple carbs like sugar will just send your body on a roller coaster that ends in a crash.
Berries Berries are an excellent choice for a healthy snack, and they can help keep your stress level under control. Berries contain a lot of vitamin C, which helps remove cortisol from your body. This is a hormone that can stress you out if it’s not in balance.
Herbal Tea Just the act of sipping a hot cup of tea can help your body relax and unwind. Choose an herbal tea with an ingredient like chamomile, known for its soothing qualities.
Pistachios Eating delicious pistachios can lower your blood pressure and your heart rate, helping you calm down.
Milk Drink milk for its vitamin D. It’s been shown to be helpful in treating and preventing panic disorders.
Ginseng Soup Ginseng is efficient at regulating hormones, which definitely helps with keeping your mental health under control. It also helps relax the nervous system and can even protect your body from ulcers caused by stress. Add some ginseng to your hot soup for a relaxing meal.
Oatmeal Eat a bowl of whole grain oatmeal every morning to take advantage of the serotonin boost it brings. Serotonin helps your nerves communicate, and a lack of it can cause depression and anxiety disorders. Low levels of serotonin can also make you hungry.
Raw Vegetables Raw veggies and even crunchy fruits help relieve stress in a very physical way. Munching on these foods encourages your jaw to relax, sending a signal to the rest of your body that it’s okay to calm down.
Sunflower Seeds Sunflower seeds are a healthy snack that can fight depression. That’s because sunflower seeds contain magnesium, something many people with depression are lacking.
Red Peppers Red peppers contain huge amounts of vitamin C, which helps to regulate the stress hormone cortisol. One study found that people who took vitamin C before a stressful activity were calmer than those who didn’t.
Bananas Eat bananas for potassium, a very important mineral to the human body. Potassium can lower blood pressure and the risk of stroke. It is also known to fight anxiety disorders.
Turkey High-stress situations can suck the tryptophan right out of your body, and this chemical is necessary for creating serotonin. You’ve heard that turkey makes you tired. It also allows your body to create serotonin and overcome depression.
Chili Peppers Capsaicin is the stuff that puts the heat in chili peppers, and it can also relieve stress. It’s also effective for appetite control and pain relief. The bright red color itself even encourages happiness.
Chocolate There’s a reason chocolate makes you feel better. The antioxidants in chocolate increase endorphin production in your brain while combating stress hormones. The darker the chocolate, the better it will make your feel.
Red Wine Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it relaxes your body. Red wine brings the calming benefits of alcohol and adds a high number of flavonoids that can lower stress. It also contains a chemical called resveratrol that activates stress fighting responses in your brain. It may also help you live longer and protect against cancer.