Secrets to Giving Your Mood an Extra Boost

Can different foods actually affect your mood?  And instead of appetite cravings, could your brain be begging for a boost? Chocolate is commonly known as a lifter of spirits, but is that our mind playing tricks on us or are there actual physiological effects?

Turns out that there are what we call “good mood food.” For example, chocolate increases the amount of serotonin released, which decreases the feeling of natural depression. This may qualify chocolate to be a good mood food, but the only problem is the temporary sugar spike that may leave you feeling even worse later on. There are some better alternatives to keep you feeling energetic, happy, or even calm throughout the day.

Try these good mood foods and let us know what you think:

Energy Boosters: Protein

Everyone has those days when even thinking about the tasks at hand is exhausting.  A big factor in fatigue is a lack of Iron in your blood.  Iron is obtained from a variety of vegetables, but the best supply and bioavailability comes from animal meat.

• Turkey Bacon
• Shrimp Salad
• Skin-Free Chicken

Depression Kickers: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 is the healthiest form of fatty acids and can help get rid of any day-to-day blues.  Important advice to remember is that our bodies do not like foods such as trans-fats or any other man-made additives.  They usually put a toll on your digestive system as well as your brain, which in turn may affect your mood negatively.  Below are some examples of Omega-3 enriched foods that would be great for a depressing day.

• Peanut Butter
• Tuna
• Salmon

Stress Reducers: Berries

Berries can help stop a hormone called Cortisol from being released, which affects the emotional control center of your brain and easing stress. Also purple berries contain anthocyanin, known to be a mood enhancer.

• Blackberries
• Strawberries
• Blueberries

Don’t forget about the Sunshine Vitamin!

Vitamin D has this particular nickname because it takes UV rays from the sun and converts it to cholesterol, which is a hormone regulator.  Regions in the world with less than average sunlight have shown to have increased problems with depression.

• Soy Milk
• Fortified Cereals
• Eggs