We view food as a source of energy, and sometimes when what we eat tastes particularly delicious – a source of guilty pleasure. But we rarely see a connection between the food we eat and the mood we are in throughout the day.
Yet if you think about it whenever we feel bored, sad, heartbroken or stressed out we automatically head to the kitchen in search of a tub of ice-cream or a bag of potato chips, instead of turning for comfort to foods that can actually help to boost our mood, improve our motivation and noticeably increase our energy (and I am not talking about coffee or ‘Red Bull’ here).
If lately you have been a little cranky, spacey and quick to snap at friends, co-workers and your family members, a better eating plan may be just the thing you need to restore balance in your personal and professional life.
Below are the Top 10 Foods that will help you to do just that:
1.
Bananas
With so many exotic fruits on the market, good ol’ bananas are often overlooked and undervalued. However, by all definitions a banana is one of the super fruits that can help you cope with stress, feel happier and noticeably improve your mood. Bananas and the potassium they contain not only keep blood pressure in check, but also help to improve memory and brain power. So instead of grabbing a chocolate chip cookie to relax, savor the deliciousness of golden bananas.
2.
Sweet potatoes
Scientists believe that high-fiber, carbohydrate-rich foods have the ability to slow down the absorption of sugar in your blood and therefore, keep energy levels stable throughout the day and lessen mood swings. Baked sweet potatoes are a great example of comfort food that is both delicious and healthy.
3.
Walnuts
There is no better way to feed your inner Einstein than popping a few Walnuts in your mouth. Besides their wrinkled, brain-like appearance (which makes them fit the description of “brain food” perfectly) they are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, known for their mood-lifting qualities. Other foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids include flax seeds, salmon, tuna and leafy green veggies.
4.
Blueberries
For those of us, who are accustomed to associating healthy foods with spinach and kale and unhealthy ones with yummy ice-cream and cup cakes, blueberries come as a pleasant surprise. After all it is not every day that you find something that is delicious, low-calorie and beneficial at the same time! Besides lifting you mood, blueberries contain antioxidants and vitamins that are known to preserve vision, promote brain health and even prevent some types of cancer.
5.
Chocolate
There are numerous articles online, claiming that chocolate helps to improve our mood. As much as I would like this to be true, I have to be honest with you – the results of a vast amount of research suggest that the mood improvement effects caused by eating chocolate are very short-lived (not more than 3 minutes). And when it is consumed to alleviate stress, depression or boredom, the temporary relief is soon followed by a mood drop. Oh well…
For a sweet-tooth like me, chocolate will still remain a virtual mood booster, as just thinking about something chocolaty lightens up my spirits.
6.
Black and Green Tea
Who would guess that the old English tradition of having five o’clock tea is so beneficial? A substance contained in black and green tea, called Theanine has a tranquilizing effect on the brain helping us to reduce mental and physical stress, improve cognition skills and lift our spirits (by triggering production of feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine). Therefore, the next time you need an energy and positivity boost, instead of ordering a double shot of espresso, go for a cup of a fragrant green tea concoction!
7.
Whole Grains
The reason why so many of us crave potato chips or cup cakes whenever we feel stressed out is because they contain carbs that help us to absorb Tryptophan (the amino acid that triggers the manufacture of serotonin). The problem is that not all carbohydrates are the same. Simple carbs contained in cakes, pies, crackers and other snack-junk food provoke big spikes in insulin production, quickly turning the feel-good vibes into even more grumpiness and irritation.
If you want to keep your optimism and energy over a long period of time while coping with stress better, you need to incorporate more complex carbs in your diet like whole-wheat grains and beans. So no chocolate chip cookies and French fries!
8.
Milk
Have you ever heard the word tryptophan? This is an amino acid responsible for making us feel sleepy after a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Now we can not always cook turkey or a chicken breast to relax after a long hard day at work, but we can always grab a glass of warm milk, add some spices like nutmeg and cloves to it and feel peace and tranquility wash through our body.
9.
Broccoli
If you find yourself susceptible to bad moods and crankiness, then it may be because you are not eating enough foods that contain folic acid. In addition to battling against cancer and heart disease, folic acid is also very helpful for lowering stress levels and preventing irritability. Still unconvinced? What if I told you told that folic acid deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in the world? It kind of makes you wonder about how many arguments could have been avoided if we had just eaten more broccoli? Other foods rich in folic acid include asparagus, avocado, chickpeas and oranges.
10.
Spinach
As children we used to watch “Popeye the Sailor Man” eating spinach and recharging his superhuman strength. Nowadays there is plenty of scientific basis to consider spinach a “power food”. Filled with nutrients and minerals like iron, potassium and magnesium it helps to regain a positive outlook on life, fight the feeling of fatigue and decrease levels of stress and anxiety. Not bad for a little vegetable, don’t you think?
Article Source:
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