You are probably familiar with the concept of comfort foods. These foods, while they may not be the healthiest options, are associated with positive memories and therefore, bring you comfort. Even beyond the concept of comfort food though, what we eat can impact our mood. The type of foods we eat, as well as the timing, can play a strong role in how we feel. Read on, and learn how what you put in your body can affect your mood and which foods to eat to improve your mood!
You Are What You Eat
The common phrase, “you are what you eat,” holds true on both a physical and emotional level. The type of foods you eat is directly related to how you feel. Eating nutritious foods can improve your physical health by boosting your energy levels, reducing bloating, and helping maintain a healthy weight and even body image.
Likewise, the right foods can also affect your brain. Harvard Health Publishing features an article describing the way food impacts your brain. Eva Selhub, MD, the author of the article, states, “Your brain requires a constant supply of fuel. That “fuel” comes from the foods you eat — and what’s in that fuel makes all the difference. Put simply, what you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood. Like an expensive car, your brain functions best when it gets only premium fuel. Eating high-quality foods that contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourishes the brain and protects it from oxidative stress — the “waste” (free radicals) produced when the body uses oxygen, which can damage cells.” When you eat the right foods, your mood improves.
Preparing and eating nutrient-rich foods are great ways to boost your mood, but it needs to be more than just a one-time thing. See, the relationship between food and mood is long-term and cyclical—meaning that they work by influencing each other over and over. When you eat crappy food, you often feel bad, both physically and emotionally. But the reverse is true, too. When you’re feeling good already, it’s easier and feels even better to eat good foods that improve your mood further. Sometimes that can mean it’s difficult to start a positive cycle instead of a downward spiral, and you may need a supplement to unslump you as you get started on your mood-improving journey...but more on Xyngular Shine below!
For now, let’s take a look at some of our favorite foods to improve your mood.
Foods That Help Improve Mood
The right nutrients in your diet can determine whether you feel down or upbeat. Eating a mixture of the right types of foods to improve mood can help you feel better throughout the day and night!
Eggs
Eggs are an excellent source of protein and Vitamin D, making them a nutritional powerhouse. Vitamin D is known as a natural mood booster and has even been linked to reduced symptoms of depression.
Seafood
Seafood is an excellent source of lean protein, which gives you steady, stable energy. It is also one of the best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, which have mood-boosting effects on top of increasing cognitive function.
Leafy Greens
Dark leafy greens, such as kale and spinach, are dense in folate, which has been linked to a reduction in levels of depression. Add a variety of leafy greens to your diet, and enjoy improved moods.
Lean Beef
Lean cuts of beef contain high levels of B-12. The Mayo Clinic describes the mood-boosting benefits of this crucial vitamin, stating, “Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins play a role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions. Low levels of B-12 and other B vitamins such as vitamin B-6 and folate may be linked to depression.”
Spinach
Okay, so we already mentioned spinach because of the folate, but we can’t help that spinach is a superfood to improve mood! The high amount of magnesium found in spinach can improve sleep quality by regulating the release of melatonin and reduce stress and anxiety.
Berries
Antioxidants play a big role in managing your body’s inflammatory response which seriously affects depression levels and other mood disorders. Look for berries high in antioxidants like blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries to improve your mood.
Nuts & Seeds
Not only do nuts and seeds provide good plant-based protein and fiber, but they’re full of powerful mood-boosting nutrients like zinc and selenium—both of which are associated with increased brain function and lower rates of depression.
Fermented Foods
The probiotic powers found in fermented foods can drastically improve gut health and digestion, which are directly linked to our mood. (Just ask someone with irritable bowel syndrome!) Reach for yogurt, kefir, kimchi, or pickled veggies as they’re all great foods to improve mood.
Turkey, Whole Milk, & Oats
What do these seemingly disparate foods have in common? They all contain a good amount of tryptophan, an essential amino acid that our bodies can’t produce. We get it through our diets and it plays a vital role in several metabolic actions that affect our brain function and mood.
Dark Chocolate
Yeah, you read that right—dark chocolate makes the list for foods to improve mood, and it’s not just because it ranks wells on the hedonic scale! Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that increase blood flow to the brain and help regulate inflammation and moods.
Eating the right types of foods can improve your brain function and elevate your mood. Make a conscious choice to eat a wide variety of the right types of foods to improve your mood—along with other activities that will make you happier—and watch your mental, emotional, and physical health improve!
Discover: The Best Vitamins For Energy and Mood
Foods That Put You In A Bad Mood
Just like there are several mood-enhancing foods, there are many foods that can have a negative impact on how you’re feeling as well. Some foods on this list may be surprising because they’re considered celebratory foods, but any positive effects will be short-lived and the negative effects will wipe out the miniature high you may have felt.
- Chips and french fries. It may be hard to swallow but these foods are high in sodium and trans fats, which are not often found in good mood foods. They can also disturb your omega-3 fatty acid balance and increase your likelihood for depression and/or aggression.
- Margarine and shortening. You may be groaning if you’re thinking of your favorite cake or pastry that calls for one of these trans fat kings but rest assured that you’ll feel much better without the blood sugar imbalances and mood swings that come with them.
- Soda and alcohol. Sugar plays a major role in the spiking and crashing of moods, and soda and alcoholic drinks are often laden with it. Even diet sodas should be avoided due to their artificial colors and sweeteners and the negative effects they have on mood.
- Processed and packaged foods. Anything from boxed cereal to canned green beans can be culprits in this bad mood food category. You don’t have to nix them from your diet entirely, but be on the lookout for excessive amounts of sugar and salt, and then opt for healthy foods to boost your mood instead.
Xyngular Shine: Improve Your Mood
While choosing the right activities and foods to improve mood is key to leading a well-rounded life, adding a supplemental boost to your mood can be a great way to get yourself on the right track and increase your overall health. Xyngular Shine is just the mood-boosting supplement you may be looking for.*
Shine uses a balanced combination of naturally sourced ingredients that work together promoting healthy hormone levels and healthy weight and providing long-term energy and increased sexual function—all on top of powerful mood improvement. It can even reduce symptoms of PMS and PMDD like bloating and irritability, lending women incredible balance all month long.*
Log into your Xyngular account or call 801.610.4580 and start improving your mood with Shine today!
Get Your Mood Fix NOW! Order Shine by contacting your Xyngular distributor or by logging in to your Xyngular account today!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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