These 10 Foods Will Boost Your Mood And Make You Happy

Food is one of the biggest parts of our lives. It has a huge impact on so many aspects of how we function, because everything we put in our bodies impacts us on a cellular level. What science is telling us now is that what we eat even impacts how we feel emotionally. That’s right — research has revealed that our diet has a huge influence on our mood. To learn what changes you can make in your diet, check out these foods that will boost your mood and make you happy.

Quinoa

Quinoa is one food that is getting a lot of attention lately. It has become one of the most popular health foods on the market. Quinoa is a delicious grain, and can be a healthy substitute to rice and pasta. Research has discovered a flavonoid in quinoa that can help fight depression.

Salmon

Salmon is beneficial to mood because of its high content of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3’s are key in our body’s ability to keep hair and skin shiny as well. Statistics show that many people do not consume salmon on a regular basis. But the great thing is that you can still get the same mood-boosting benefits through taking fish oil supplements.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are also great for mental health because they are high in vitamin D. This vitamin is known to help boost mood and even has anti-depressant capabilities. It does this by helping to convert tryptophan into serotonin.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is a wonderful mood booster as well as many other health benefits. Studies show that it can help dissolve emotional distress and boosts mood by raising endorphin levels.

Probiotic-rich foods

Probiotics are bacteria that live in our intestines and digestive system. These tiny little organisms pack a powerful punch, as they are responsible for proper digestion, keeping the gut clean, and strengthening the immune system. They directly influence the health of the brain-gut axis, so they calm the body and ease aggression.

Foods with B6 vitamins

Vitamin B6 is a big part of the body’s ability to convert tryptophan into serotonin, which helps to balance mood, impulse, appetite, and neurological processes. Foods like seafood, chicken, beef, spinach, leafy greens, and kale are all high in vitamin B6.

Grapes

Grapes are another great food to add to your diet to enhance your mood. This is because grapes are high in an antioxidant called resveratrol, which has been shown to boost mood and make you feel more happy.

Foods with Folic Acid

Foods like turnip greens, bok choy, and spinach are all high in folic acid. Folic acid is important for fetal brain development, while low folic acid can lead to a drop in serotonin levels.

Foods with Vitamin C

Vitamin C is essential to keeping your immune system strong through antioxidants. Vitamin C helps to keep you healthy by binding to free radicals and helping the body eliminate them. By improving health, this can help to improve overall mood. Foods like broccoli, oranges, strawberries, mangoes, and kiwis are all high in vitamin C.

Magnesium

Magnesium is one nutrient that many people are actually deficient in. This is alarming because magnesium is essential to many bodily functions, like balancing serotonin. You can increase your magnesium intake by eating more foods like nuts, seeds, whole grains, kefir, leafy greens, yogurt, and Swiss chard.