Food and Mood Go Hand in Hand

Your body is always working hard around the clock. Every breath, every thought, every beat of your heart is being managed by your body and brain. In order to keep going, your body and brain need energy, and the quality of the energy that you put into your body matters. Every bite that you take affects your mood. In order to experience high quality moods, you need to give your body high quality food. There’s a neurotransmitter called serotonin in your brain that controls your mood. When food travels through your digestive system, nutrients are absorbed, and those nutrients improve your overall wellbeing. The more nutrients you get, the better you feel; which is why it’s a great idea to eat healthy nutrient packed foods. Foods aren’t always enough, so vitamins can fill the gaps. Let’s discuss which foods and vitamins are good for feeling great!

Happiness Meals

Dark chocolate is a great way to boost your mood and indulge your chocolate craving, all in one pop! This yummy superfood, improves blood flow to your brain, which helps to increase that good old serotonin. Another good mood food is green tea! Green tea is amazing for mood, but not just any green tea, matcha green tea! Matcha is like the penthouse of green tea. It’s the actual green leaf, ground up into a fine powder, so it’s extremely potent. Matcha contains something called EGCG, which has been linked to happier moods. Bananas are a very convenient go-to for uplifting your emotions. Bananas contain tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin. Last but not least, almonds are a great friend to mood. Almonds are a delicious snack and make you feel good too. Almonds contain selenium, which helps fight depression.

Feel Good Vitamins

Eating healthy foods is one piece of the puzzle and vitamins are another. Magnesium is a vitamin that is well known for its positive benefits. Low levels are linked to depression. 450 mg is suggested for adults to improve mood. Next up is vitamin B6. This vitamin helps your body to create serotonin—that much needed chemical that we discussed earlier. Another vitamin in the B family is B12. B12 works together with B6 to metabolize serotonin. So, if you can pick up a supplement with both vitamins, you’ll be in great shape. Another feel-good heavy hitter is vitamin D. Vitamin D is produced in your skin naturally when you absorb rays from the sun. It’s super important in your body because it’s linked to overall brain function. Studies have shown that optimal levels are associated with an improved mood.

Healthy Food Habits

One of the challenges with eating healthy is being consistent. You may be wondering how to stop cravings for foods that aren’t so healthy. Well, it all starts with grocery shopping. If you bring healthier food into the house, it’s easier to fight off those cravings. Start slow at first and grab a bunch of bananas instead of those cupcakes. Bananas are still sweet, so they’ll take the craving away, while keeping you on the nutrition bandwagon. Grapes are another great option. They’re an easy, quick snack, and you can take them with you on the go. Or grab a handful of almonds, which will be filling and also create those good vibes. So get started on your next grocery visit. Grab fruit instead of cookies. When you’re home and you want those cookies, try eating the fruit instead; most of the time, that will be enough to satisfy the craving. Salted almonds should do the trick for salt cravings. As you begin to feel better, you’ll be more motivated to continue eating healthy foods. Eventually, your body will start to crave the good stuff. It’s a great habit to cultivate, and the benefits are so worth it!