MOOD FOODS
The superfoods guaranteed to boost your mood
Going through a G messy break-up? Reach for the Ben & Jerry’s. Experiencing severe Love Island withdrawals (yes, it totally is a real thing)? Binge on biscuits. When we’re feeling low, we’re almost preprogrammed to comfort eat in an attempt to make us feel better.
But increasing research into the way our diet affects our brain suggests that choosing the right foods could actually turn our mood around, reduce anxiety and fight against depression. And, soz, ice cream and jammy dodgers aren’t on the feel-good food menu. Chef Gemma Ogstone, of @Gemswholesomekitchen, is a plant-based chef who has worked with mental health charities to create menus that feed the soul as well as the stomach, and has discovered the foods that are most likely to lift us when we’re experiencing a mental dip.
“I think people get so caught up in eating to lose weight, instead of thinking about whether what’s on your plate makes you feel good in your mind,” she says. “But there’s a science behind it. Take
‘What’s on your plate can help what’s in your mind’
nuts – they have a mineral called selenium in them, which is often low in people who suffer from depression and anxiety. Or if you’re suffering from PMT, eating iron-rich foods like spinach, berries and shellfish will help you feel less tired.”
And instead of grabbing whatever you can find, taking time to prepare and appreciate what’s on your plate will nourish you from the inside out. “If you make a salad that’s bright and colourful and has a few edible flowers in it, it even makes you happier while you’re eating it,” says Gemma.
And A-listers are on board, with Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato crediting the overhaul of their diet to helping them to keep
their mental health in check. Fearne Cotton agrees, “I drink goat milk kefir each day, which tastes like feet but is great for your gut. If I’m constipated or have digestion issues, I feel terrible emotionally. For me, a healthy gut equals a healthy head.”
Gem’s Wholesome Kitchen offers plant-based delivery cleanse packages in Brighton and she has a Mood Boosting E-book out soon.