Foods that boost your mood

Eating a poor diet is full of cascading effects that damage your mood and to think that your mood plays no role in your health is a totally myth. A poor mood can actually damage your immune system, slow down weight loss and lead to tension headaches. Here are some scientifically proven mood lifting foods which may be better options.

Chocolate

This may not be news to you, but it is good to know is that there’s some science behind the theory that chocolate makes us happy: eating dark chocolate (1.4 ounces of it, to be exact) every day for two weeks reduced stress hormones, including cortisol, in people who were highly stressed, a study done at the Nestle Research Center in Switzerland recently found. Experts believe it could be thanks to the antioxidants in chocolate. When you do indulge, be sure to account for the 235 calories those 1.4 ounces of chocolate delivers—or you may be stressed to see extra pounds creeping on.

Avocado

Avocado benefits are far-reaching, particularly in the brain department. In fact, you’ll find them on nearly every healthy-eating list I create — and with good reason. This super food is loaded with benefits ranging from protecting your heart to helping with digestion, but it’s also a great pick for improving your mood. Avocados are natural hormone balancers, ensuring your brain is making the right chemicals needed for keep it feeling great. If I had to recommend just one food to eat to feel happier, this would be it, the mood-boosting avocado. It’s the No. 1 food to eat to feel happier.

Green tea

On a day to day basis, drinking green tea will help to regulate your blood glucose levels, keep you alert and hydrated and anecdotally help to manage the dreaded sugar cravings after lunch.

Greek Yogurt

This dairy pick is packed with more calcium than you'll find in milk or regular yogurt, and it can make you happy, too. Proper calcium levels give the "go" command, alerting your body to release feel-good neurotransmitters.

Bananas

Bananas contain the amino acid tryptophan as well as vitamins A, B6 and C, fiber, potassium, phosphorous, iron and carbohydrate. Mood-boosting carbohydrates aid in the absorption of tryptophan in the brain, while vitamin B6 helps convert the tryptophan into the mood-lifting hormone serotonin. This helps to boost your mood and also aids sleep. Because of its ability to raise serotonin levels, tryptophan has been used in the treatment of a variety of conditions, such as insomnia, depression and anxiety.

Ginger Tea

Forget the afternoon coffee and grab a ginger tea instead! Not only will the coffee keep you up all night and disrupt your body clock, caffeine is also known to contribute to nervousness, increased heart rate and restlessness. Doesn’t sound like fun to us! Ginger-infused tea is filled with antioxidants and nutrients that will give you that afternoon boost without the caffeine consequences. All you need to do is boil water with some fresh ginger for 5-10 minutes and add a squeeze of lemon before drinking. Yum!