8 Foods You Should Eat to Feel Happier

We frequently experiment with various approaches to enhancing our mental health, including therapy, fresh workout regimens, and meditation to discover joy and tranquility. However, are you aware that you can improve your mood by consuming particular foods? In the past ten years, research on the relationship between diet and mental health has grown, and specific meals are linked to higher levels of serotonin in our brains. The neurotransmitter serotonin, sometimes referred to as the "happy hormone," is crucial in controlling our mood. Mood instability might result from low serotonin levels. Check out our list of natural ways to control anxiety for additional information on managing anxiety without drugs and try these easy strategies to enhance your mental health without therapy.

1. Bananas

.Bananas are perhaps the definition of "good mood food" if such a thing exists. However, they might not be what you believe they are. Serotonin can be found in bananas, but it cannot pass the blood-brain barrier (think of the BBB as a wall that filters what can and cannot enter our bloodstream and make its way to our brains). However, bananas can also have a significant indirect impact on mood regulation. The production of serotonin by your body requires vitamin B6, which bananas are particularly high in. Up to 0.4 mg of vitamin B6 can be found in a single medium banana, or about 25% of the daily required amount.

2. Coffee

According to a meta-analysis published in 2016, drinking coffee considerably lowers the chance of developing depression. Another small study found that compared to those who drank a placebo drink, drinking coffee, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, significantly enhanced the subjects' mood.

3. Coconut

Medium-chain triglycerides, which are abundant in coconut, can help you feel more energised. A 2017 animal study indicated that MCTs from coconut milk may alleviate anxiety, which is another reason why coconut is regarded as a mood food. To properly comprehend the relationship between anxiety and coconut in people, more research is required.

4. Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate has been shown to improve mood, according to a systematic review. Tryptophan, theobromine, and phenylethylalanine are the three primary chocolate ingredients that are linked to feelings of happiness. The brain produces serotonin using the amino acid tryptophan. A mild stimulant, theobromine can lift your spirits. Phenylethylalanine is a different amino acid that the body uses to make dopamine, an antidepressant.

5. Fermented foods

Sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, kombucha, and yogurt are examples of foods that go through the fermentation process. These foods help you maintain a healthy gut and may also help you feel better. Probiotics are produced by fermentation, and healthy bacteria in your stomach are supported by probiotics. What connection exists between your gut and your mood, exactly? A lot. Your gut cells help your body make up to 90% of the serotonin that is produced. Consuming fermented foods hence encourages serotonin synthesis.

6. Avocado

One thing is certain: avocados make us happier. Older generations may argue that millennials' lack of home ownership is due to their love of avocado toast. This fruit's smooth, creamy texture belies its nutritional power, which includes choline, a substance your body utilizes to control your nervous system and mood. According to a study published in 2020, avocados' beneficial lipids help women feel less anxious. Avocados' high vitamin B content, which has been associated with lowered stress levels, is a fantastic additional reason to eat more of them.

7. Berries

Intake of fruits and vegetables was strongly linked to enhanced mental health, according to a 2016 meta-analysis. Antioxidants, or flavonoids, are particularly abundant in berries and may lessen the symptoms of depression. Another study that involved giving blueberry juice to the participants had encouraging findings that connected blueberry consumption to decreased aging-related cognitive impairment.

8. Salmon

Omega 3 fatty acids, which have been shown to lift our mood, are abundant in salmon. Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for the production of new cells in our bodies, and they also make our hair and skin shiny, giving us the look of contentment.