Bananas. Bananas may help turn a frown upside down. They're high in vitamin B6, which helps synthesize feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin ( 20 ).
The best nutritional plan to prevent depression is likely to be a varied diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
The researchers narrowed down the top 10 raw fruits and vegetables they found to be associated with better mental health and fewer symptoms of depression. These include carrots, dark leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, cucumber, apples, bananas, grapefruit, other citrus fruits, fresh berries, and kiwifruit.
Pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds, along with tree nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pine nuts and pistachios, are high in plant-based proteins, healthy fats and fiber. They also provide tryptophan, an amino acid that produces serotonin, a known mood booster.
Mental Health Month: Top 10 foods to boost your mood
34 related questions found
What naturally enhances mood?
Combine sunshine, exercise, and social connections. Go for a 30-minute walk each day with a pet or a supportive relative or friend. Try yoga, meditation, or another relaxation technique to help you de-stress and improve your mood. Time away in nature, like watch- ing a sunset, may help too.
Eating fruits and vegetables, like apples, produces a calming effect, creates more energy, and increases overall happiness, according to the British Journal of Health Psychology. For recipes starring apples, try 11 Swoon-Worthy Ways to Eat a Whole Baked Apple For Dessert. There's a reason why Popeye ate it.
When we're anxious and stressed, our bodies crave vitamin C to help repair and protect our cells, and blueberries are packed full of it. Small but mighty, blueberries are bursting with antioxidants and vitamin C which have been shown to provide anxiety relief.
Citrus Fruits and Strawberries Contain Vitamin C, Which Help Fight Stress. Some studies have found that high levels of vitamin C may help ease stress levels.
Eggs – with yolk. The protein provided by eggs helps stabilize blood sugar and the yolks contain B vitamins, which are proven to lessen the severity of depression's symptoms.
Chicken and other poultry also contain tryptophan, a precursor of the feel-good hormone serotonin. Other foods that have selenium include Brazil nuts, oysters, lean pork chops, shiitake mushrooms, shrimp, steak, tofu, tuna, and whole wheat pastas.
Foods naturally rich in magnesium may, therefore, help a person to feel calmer. Examples include leafy greens, such as spinach and Swiss chard. Other sources include legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Foods rich in zinc such as oysters, cashews, liver, beef, and egg yolks have been linked to lowered anxiety.
If you take magnesium as a supplement, studies that showed that magnesium can have anti-anxiety effects generally used dosages of between 75 and 360 mg a day, according to the 2017 review. It's best to consult a healthcare practitioner before taking any supplement so you know the correct dose for you.
Just stepping away from something stressful for a few minutes or taking time away from your normal routines and thoughts can give you enough space and distance to feel calmer. Read a book or a magazine, even if it's only for a few minutes. Run yourself a bath, watch a film, play with a pet or try out a new recipe.
If you eat lots of processed meat, fried food, refined cereals, candy, pastries, and high-fat dairy products, you're more likely to be anxious and depressed. A diet full of whole fiber-rich grains, fruits, vegetables, and fish can help keep you on a more even keel.
According to a recent study published in the journal Experimental Psychology, researchers found smiling — even a fake smile — can have a positive impact on mood. Essentially, triggering certain facial muscles by smiling can "trick" your brain into thinking you're happy.
