Getting Happy
Everyone wants to be happy, and recent research has looked at the connection between mental health and diet. Foods that are high in serotonin, also referred to as the “happy hormone,” help to elevate mood stability.
Dark Chocolate
A comprehensive review found a connection between dark chocolate and happier moods. This action is facilitated by substances such as phenylethyl alanine, theobromine, and tryptophan. Theobromine elevates mood, tryptophan helps produce serotonin, and phenylethylamine promotes the release of dopamine, which has antidepressant properties.
Bananas
Bananas’ high vitamin B6 concentration has an indirect effect on mood control. Bananas don’t contain serotonin that can pass across the blood-brain barrier, but vitamin B6 is necessary for the body to produce serotonin. Approximately 25% of the daily recommended dose of vitamin B6 is found in a medium-sized banana.
Coconut
Because of its medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), coconut oil may increase energy. Furthermore, a 2017 study on animals indicates that MCTs from coconut milk may lessen anxiety. While further human research is necessary, the possible mood-enhancing benefits of coconut are fascinating.
Berries
Particularly high in flavonoids, which are antioxidants, berries have been linked to better mental health. A meta-analysis published in 2016 emphasized the link between increased mental health and eating more fruits and vegetables. In particular, consuming blueberries has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in mitigating the cognitive deterioration linked to aging.
Avocado
Happiness-promoting avocado is frequently hilariously held responsible for the housing difficulties faced by millennials. Avocados, which are high in choline, help to regulate mood and the neural system. A 2020 study connected women’s reduced anxiety to the good fats in avocados.
