If you’re having a rough day, it can be really tempting to turn to certain comfort foods that, let’s shall we say, aren’t very healthy. This is human nature and very understandable!
However, there are some foods that you can reach for to flip your mood switch to the on position that are actually good for you.
Foods for Mood Improvement
Read on for the top three happy boosting foods to grab when you’re feeling a bit down.
1. Raw Chocolate
Yummy chocolate – it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t appreciate a good helping of decadent chocolate! Here’s some great news: raw chocolate is chock full of what is known as the bliss chemical, anandamide; and the love chemical, phenylethylamine. (1)
If you are not familiar with raw chocolate, head to your nearest Whole Foods store or even one of the larger supermarket chains, and they can point them out to you.
You can buy raw chocolate in nibs or bits, and add them to other foods for a delicious burst of chocolaty flavor!
2. Bananas
This popular, delicious fruit is already known for its yummy flavor, making it a perfect addition to smoothies, muffins, pancakes and cereal. And of course, it makes the ideal on-the-go snack all on its own!
Even better than their taste is the fact that they are loaded with healthy nutrients, including melatonin, which helps regulate sleep patterns and can restore internal balance, along with amino acids that the brain uses to control mood. So snacking on a banana is a fabulous way to get a healthy dose of joy. (2)
3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Having a healthy dinner or lunch with fish in the starring role can go a long way in improving your emotional well-being. Studies show that the omega-3 fatty acids, which come in rich amounts with fish, can help to relieve symptoms of depression. (3)
Did you know that your brain is 60% fat? Interestingly enough, your brain craves those healthy omega-3 fats that are found in fatty fish such as salmon. (4)
Other healthy fish high in omega-3s include mackerel, sardines, tuna, trout, and sturgeon.
If you aren’t one for fish – no problem! Stock up on walnuts, chia and flaxseed, all of which are high in omega-3 fatty acids. You may also try Sacha Inchi seeds. The product is called Savi Seed if buying from Vega. The package says “Ounce for ounce, these amazing seeds on their own contain 17 times more Omega-3 than wild sockeye salmon and have 9 g of complete protein.” They aren’t raw, but they are vegan, and our kids can bring them to school. They are “seeds” so we’re safe. If you buy SaviSeed from this link then RawFoodHealthWatch.com, for which I am a writer, will get a commission. We appreciate it!
Video: SaviSeeds aka Sacha Inchi Seeds
Check out this video where Registered Holistic Nutritionist Peggy Kotsopoulos introduces SaviSeed.
Antonia is a science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition. She has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. Read more by Antonia here, and SUBSCRIBE!
Sources for this article include:
(1) http://www.besthealthmag.ca/
(2) http://www.naturalnewsblogs.com/
(3) http://www.prevention.com/
(4) http://www.doctoroz.com/
( http://www.rawfoodhealthwatch.com/ )
