Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
REBEKAH Curry tikkas all the boxes
Experts find spicy takeaways best for boosting happiness
THERE’S naan better than a curry for cheering you up, a study says.
It makes people happier than any other takeaway, with more than four times the mood-boosting qualities of fish and chips.
Volunteers had 10 takeaways over four weeks to see which lifted levels of happy hormone serotonin the most.
The 2,100 taking part were measured before and after eating on a Brief Mood Introspection Scale that looked at how chirpy they felt. The average
BMIS rate before eating was 142 – but after eating curry it soared 83% to 260.
Fish and chips gave an 18% boost to 168, found the study by takeaway firm Lieferando, owned by Just Eat.
Psychologist Lee Chambers said: “The idea of comfort food is not a myth; we can use food as a coping mechanism when we are feeling stressed, anxious or bored to anchor us in the present while enjoying it.
“When we look at the brain chemicals, our favourite takeaway can trigger dopamine release. Just thinking about it can stimulate this, generating a craving we can then satisfy.”
Curry fan Jordan Clarke, 32, of Pinner, North West London, said: “I get a curry a couple of times a week and on the days I know I’m getting one I’m happy the whole day – and when it arrives I’m like a Cheshire Cat.” How mood-boosting is your takeaway? 1 Curry (83%) 2 Sushi (73%) 3 Burger and chips (70%) 4 Thai (64%) 5 Chinese (58%) 6 Pizza (52%) 7 Fried chicken (48%) 8 Kebab (27%) 9 Mexican (24%) 10 Fish & chips ( 18%)