Healthy Foods That Boost Your Mood

Food is such an amazing thing. Just saying the word ‘chocolate’ can produce an emotional response from some people. But on the other hand, the wrong diet can give anyone a serious case of the blues.

When you have a hard day at work or with the kids, do you crave sweets or fatty foods? In our home, we sometimes call that wanting to ‘eat our emotions.’ And we are not alone in this. This is a common craving that people want to have comfort food after a rough day.

There has been a mountain of research done on depression. One question for many researchers is whether depression leads to poor diet or poor diets lead to depression. This leads us to the general suggestion of eating food high in nutrients.

When you eat these better foods, namely, lean proteins, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables, we can cut that cycle off and keep our bodies healthy. Here are a few specific suggestions of what nutrient-dense foods you can have when you’re feeling even just a little blue.

Turkey

Yep, not just for Thanksgiving. The key here is tryptophan. It is key in producing serotonin which is a feel-good chemical your brain and body need to boost your mood.

Whole Grains

High fiber carbs are a key to improving your mood and doing so quickly. These include brown rice, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and whole-grain pasta.

“Researchers are not sure if poor diets causes depression or depression causes poor diet.”

Think about a turkey sandwich on whole-wheat bread, with some nice avocados to hit the fatty acids. YUM! Talk about a mood booster. It might give you the energy to put on those running shoes and keep those serotonin levels (more about this later) up with a workout.

Antioxidants

You hear this word a lot, but if you do not understand it, you might miss the point of the conversation. In a nutshell, antioxidants tie up free radicals. Free radicals are what your body produces naturally in day-to-day operations. They contribute to cell damage and other body dysfunction. We can take away much of that destructive power by neutralizing them with vitamins A and C.

Much of this damage can be done in your brain, so eating Apricots, broccoli, carrots, strawberries, nuts, and peppers will all help reduce how much damage these little buggers can do.

Walnuts

Go ahead and top your strawberry yogurt with some walnuts. They are great for your body because of the omega-3, promote brain health, and are a good source of monounsaturated fats. That means they will help reduce any risk of heart disease. In short, walnuts are good for your ticker and your brain.

Fish

Speaking of omega-3 fatty acids, fish is their best source, hands down. Also, the other nutrients in fish help reduce inflammation and improve circulation.

Low-Fat Dairy

This includes skim milk, low-fat cheeses, and yogurts. These items are loaded with Calcium and vitamin D. The other big nutrient they have to offer is peptides, a type of protein that can induce a sense of relaxation and well-being.

Green Tea

Looking for something that is unbelievably high in antioxidants? Here is your food. It also has a substance called theanine. This is a de-stressor and has amino acids naturally found in tea leaves. It is theorized that the tension and hypertension found in coffee drinkers are not present in tea drinkers because of this substance.

Selenium

Beans, lean meats, low-fat dairy, nuts, seafood, and whole grains (see how many we have already covered?) They are all rich in this mineral. There is an association between low selenium intake and depression, but they can not authoritatively say that it helps remedy the situation. Eating the suggested foods can get you the nutrients, or you can take a supplement, but be careful. It is possible to take too much and become toxic.

Dark Chocolate

Remember the emotional response mentioned earlier? Dark chocolate can help with those serotonin levels and improve cardiovascular health. Just remember it is a nutrient-dense food, with 150 calories per ounce, so eat it sparingly. or maybe add it to your exercise routine.

Support Your Health With KURU

While we always encourage working closely with your doctor to manage depression and improve your emotional health, we also encourage a regular workout schedule. Studies have shown that regular exercise boosts your mood by raising serotonin levels. Not only does this make you happier, but it also helps you sleep better, aids in digestion, boosts your energy, and can even improve your memory.

KURU shoes offer the best support shoes to help you stay comfortable and motivated to get your move on daily. Our patented KURUSOLE technology uses your body heat to mold to the exact shape of your foot, so you get custom support and a perfect fit that gets better every time you wear them.

Enjoy a happier life, better sleep, and more energy with KURU shoes.

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