Healthy Mood Boosting Foods And Drinks

 Healthy Mood Boosting Foods And Drinks

When you are feeling upset or stressed, it can be easy to turn to food as a source of comfort. There are several healthy foods and drinks that can help boost our moods and lift our spirits. Here are a few ideas of foods and drinks you can enjoy that may help put you in a more positive, cheerful, energetic and uplifting mood.

First, you could try fruits. Many fruits including grapes, lemons, apples, plums, bananas, strawberries, oranges, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and pears contain vitamins and nutrients that help produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which help boost the mood. Fruit is also a healthy choice if you are craving something sweet that contains natural sugar. You can even choose to enjoy fruit as a smoothie or juice.

Vegetables are also a healthy choice to eat when you need a mood boost. Like fruits, many vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, lettuce and mushrooms contain an excellent amount of nutrients and vitamins that help produce serotonin and dopamine, which are effective in boosting one’s mood. You can even prepare a soup or salad with your favorite vegetables to give you a healthy mood-boosting snack.

Water is so important for your overall health. In addition to keeping you hydrated, drinking enough water also helps improve one’s mood. Drinking enough water also can help aid digestion, normalize blood pressure, regulate temperature, increase energy, improve brain function, help with weight loss, boost skin health and protect organs and tissues.

Eggs are a great food to eat for breakfast whether you like them scrambled, poached, boiled etc. Eggs contain choline, a nutrient that helps produce neurotransmitters that elevate your mood. Eggs also contain vitamins and protein to help keep your heart healthy, aid in weight loss and improve muscle health.

Chicken, lean beef, pork, shrimp and turkey are also great for improving one’s mood. These foods are rich in tryptophan, which produces serotonin and can thereby lift one’s mood. These foods are also great sources for protein.

Tea can be enjoyed throughout the day and has many health benefits. This dopamine and serotonin- boosting drink helps lower blood sugar levels and supports good heart health. Tea also contains antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation, aid in weight loss and improve gut health.

Coffee is a popular drink that many consume throughout the day to give them a boost of energy as they handle their day-to-day tasks. Coffee increases the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine that help to improve one’s mood. Coffee is also a beneficial source for antioxidants that can help enhance brain function.

Pasta contains serotonin which can contribute a positive effect on one’s mood. Whether it’s spaghetti, fettucine, lasagna, rigatoni, gnocchi, manicotti, ravioli, penne, ziti or macaroni, pasta has lots of health benefits including being high in fiber, high in protein and low in sodium. Pasta also assists with boosting energy.

Yogurt is a good snack to enjoy that is also an incredible source for natural probiotics. You can even add fruit to this serotonin-boosting food if you do not desire to eat it plain. Yogurt also has health benefits that support good heart health and help maintain bone density.

Finally, oatmeal is a wonderful food to eat for breakfast and contributes a positive effect on both mood and energy. You can even add things to oatmeal to improve the flavor including cinnamon or fruit, if you don’t wish to eat it plain. Oatmeal is a good source for both fiber and iron.