4 Foods to Help You Turn That Frown Upside Down
By Stephen R. Farris
If you find yourself feeling depressed or moody, consider the fact it might not just be the environment around you that's getting you down. It could in fact, be in the foods that we eat instead.
While environmental factors are usually the biggest cause -- work, school, home life, etc. -- poor nutritional habits can also lead to depressed feelings. In most cases, when we do feel depressed it's easy to turn to eating to help bring comfort. Unfortunately, we tend to grab things that are not good for us, such as sugary foods. You know, cake, cookies, ice cream, chips, sodas, or fast foods such as the usual burgers, shakes, and fries. Yes, those types of things. Basically, any food that will bring us comfort. Or so we think.
In reality, what we're really doing is only temporary. A quick fix, so to speak. It could also cause us to dive deeper into our moods, rather than help us snap out of them.
Lucky for us, there are foods out there that can actually improve our moods and keep them that way. All it takes is a few changes in our diet.
For starters, here's a few examples of foods that can alter our moods and feelings of depression.
Fatty Fish
Fatty fish such as salmon, for example, and other varieties, contain omega-3 fatty acids. According to research, omega-3 fatty acids show to be key factors in brain development and cell signaling. Most studies concur that consuming omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil can help lower depression.
Dark Chocolate
There are a variety of chocolates out there, yet dark chocolate is considered more for its mood-boosting compounds. Dark chocolate contains caffeine, theobromine, and N-acylethanolamine (similar to cannabinoids) all of which can quickly lead to a better mood, since they are considered feel-good compounds.
Fermented Foods
Kimchi, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut are all forms of fermented foods. These food types have been associated with not only improving your mood, but also with gut health as well.
Bananas
Bananas contain about 16 grams of natural sugar and around 3.5 grams of fiber, and is a great addition to anyone's diet, as well as for snacking. It is also high in Vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 can help our mood by synthesizing our feel-good neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin.
The bottom line, with a simple change in your diet, you could be on the road to being more happy and content with yourself and things around you.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Rockford, Ill.