Essential Foods For Good Mood
To have energy, to be in a good mood or in good health… You have to bet on the right foods! But what should you put on your plate to feel good in your body and in your head? Keep reading to know all about the essential foods for good mood.
Let your food be your only medicine
Hippocrates, father of naturopathy, already saw things that way. To prevent illnesses and to stimulate your form, you have to choose the foods you put on your plate and say “yes” to functional foods!
The term healthy food is a word that mixes food and medicine. Aptly named functional foods in Canada, these foods would have a real impact on health and mood. But what are these foods (100% natural)?
We are not talking here about industrial functional foods whose health claims are often the result of marketing operations and whose clinical tests have proved too insufficient for them to be considered as real functional foods by large institutions or by nutritionists.
The main natural foods
In order to be able to speak of a functional food, the virtues of the food concerned must be supported by conclusive scientific studies.
Certain functional foods that would act on health and mood: green tea, chocolate, turmeric, tomato, citrus fruits, etc.
– bet on spices
Paprika, curry, saffron… all these spices are excellent for your health. But it is especially turmeric, used in Ayurvedic medicine that shines for its promises on health. Its content of flavonoids and especially curcumin, gives it an antioxidant power that protects against cardiovascular and degenerative diseases caused by oxidative stress.
Tip: The piperine contained in the black pepper that is mixed with turmeric increases tenfold the proportion of turmeric absorbed by the body. The combination of black pepper and turmeric would protect against certain cancers.
– Don’t forget the nuts!
It’s not a snack you often think of… and yet, dried fruits, in addition to being tasty, are rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin E, nutrients for good mood!
Almonds are an undeniable source of energy, due to their magnesium content, which has proven beneficial effects on stress. In case of slight anxiety or fatigue, take about 10 almonds (100 kcal).
Brazilian nuts (about 20 kcal/nut) are also an important source of magnesium. Alkanising, these nuts buffer the acidity of our body. This mechanism restores the acid-base balance and thus regains energy and vitality! Dosage: a handful of nuts per day (about 5 to 6 nuts).
– Think of vitamin B6 against depression…
Vitamin B6 plays a crucial role in the synthesis of certain neurotransmitters like serotonin, melatonin and dopamine. They maintain mental balance and regulate mood, appetite and sleep.
Foods rich in vitamin B6 such as turkey or chicken, tuna, salmon or cod, potatoes with the skin and unsalted pistachios, are excellent against depression, irritability and fatigue. So don’t forget to put them on the menu!
– Vitamin B12 if you have trouble concentrating
Vitamin B12 is essential for the growth, cell division and function of cells in the body, as well as for the balance of the nervous system. These properties make it a fundamental vitamin for maintaining fitness and concentration!
Meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs and dairy products, rich in vitamin B12, are foods that will promote memory, concentration and energy.
– Fill up on fruit
It is recognized: the consumption of sugar releases dopamine in our brain, the hormone of pleasure. But rather than turning to the refined sweet products found in stores, why not bet on seasonal fruits?
In a purely psychological way, the sweet taste of fruits could allow the release of dopamine.
This is the whole principle of functional foods since a comfort food has a physical dimension: its taste, its texture, its appearance, and an emotional dimension. And emotion can determine the comfort food you seek out.
– Say “yes” to dark chocolate for well-being!
Chocolate, and especially dark chocolate with at least 75% cocoa, stimulates a good mood! Rich in magnesium, it is an anxiolytic and a natural antidepressant, which is why it is the subject of numerous scientific studies. It contains phenylethylamine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates the production of endorphins. Although we do not yet know the precise function of endorphins, it is now considered that they contribute to a feeling of pleasure.
Dosage: limit yourself to 1 square of dark chocolate (50 g) per day for pleasure and for mood!
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I hope you enjoyed this selection of essential foods for good mood and found it useful. Comment down below what you think, which foods do you like best, or share with us food you deem essential that are not mentioned above.
Looking forward to reading your comments, sending you love and positive energy!!!
