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10 Summer Foods to Brighten Your Mood

By Chris Brown

Summer is here, full of sunshine and all the active activities to pull people out of winter's gloom. However, despite the best of weather, it is natural to sometimes get depressed. Rather than curl into a ball of self-pity and junk food, there are 10 tasty and healthy summer foods to lighten your mood when it's hit by the summer blues.

  • Salmon - Raise your mood from the sea with salmon. Besides knowing your body is being filled with healthy fats and vitamins, salmon's high omega-3 content is connected to reduced anxiety and better mental health.
  • Dark chocolate - With a combination of flavonoids and a high tryptophan content (the body uses tryptophan create neurotransmitters for positive mood), chocolate can lift you up from any moody day.
  • Walnuts - While also high in omega-3s, walnuts are one of the richest natural sources of serotonin (the "feel good chemical" of the brain).
  • Cashews - The magnesium, zinc, tryptophan, and B6 in cashews all regulate and improve mood. Low levels of zinc, in particular, have been linked to depression and anxiety. So crunch those cashews to a more mentally stable you.
  • Sweet potato - Vitamin B6 (low levels have been associated with depression) is just one of the reasons why sweet potatoes are an excellent summer food. A sweet potato's starch keeps you full throughout the night, preventing midnight cravings and so you're rested for the next summer day.
  • Spinach - A green packed with vitamins and feel-good nutrients tryptophan and folate that is also tasty in a light summer salad.
  • Avocados - Another reason why chips and guacamole is a summer favorite. The high tryptophan, folate, and omega-3 content in avocados keeps your brain happy as it delights the tongue.
  • Berries - Summer berries are not only delicious in yogurt or by itself, but the anti-inflammatory effects of berries can prevent that late-day depression (which often results from inflammation in the brain).
  • Yogurt - Speaking of yogurt, its healthy live bacteria can also make you feel light and happy. Recent research has found yogurt to not only help with depression, but also with stress and social anxiety, all of which is tied back to those helpful, happy bacteria.
  • Green tea - Instead of sugary sweet tea, try swapping instead for an iced green tea this summer. Green tea contains the amino acid theanine, which has anti-anxiety properties and induces calming.

Basing your meals and snacks around these good mood foods can help you keep upbeat throughout the summer. And for even better vibes, treat your spine to an adjustment at The Joint Chiropractic. A walk-in session at The Joint can optimize your digestive tract to best receive the positivity from your summer foods.  

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Hurst, Tex.

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