What kind of food puts you in a good mood?
Chris Page talks turkey ... and satisfying six other good mood-boosting foods to help keep the winter blues at bay.
There’s a new Magnificent Seven in town! But, unlike 1960 blockbuster western gunslingers Brynner, McQueen, Bronson, Vaughn, Dexter, Coburn and Buchholz, these are good for your health. With continuing cold snap forecast this month before March 20 official spring start, they’re recommended moodboosting foods to ward off winter woes.
“What better way to get yourself back on track and improve both your physical and mental health than through diet?” ask Wren Kitchens experts, suggesting good grub to beat first quarter blues.
“Shorter darker days negatively impact your mood in a way that can last throughout winter,” adds a spokesman for UK’s biggest kitchens and stone worktops manufacturer and retailer, employing 7,200-plus staff.
Searches for “what to eat to boost mood” have increased by +300 per cent within the past year. So, there’s no need to succumb to seven deadly sins when you can enjoy this virtuous septuple ...
1 OATS
Oats are a great source of fibre and iron, which help keep your energy levels stable throughout the day and ease off any feeling of tiredness, sluggishness, and feeling fed up. Incorporating these into your diet not only in winter but throughout the year will massively help improve and manage your mood.
2 TURKEY
Turkey is rich in tryptophan which helps our bodies produce serotonin. Serotonin is the mood-boosting neurotransmitter that helps you to relax and has been suggested to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. This makes it perfect for consumption when wanting to make yourself feel better when feeling the winter blues.
3 TUNA
Tuna is a great source of selenium which is a nutritionally essential mineral that your body needs for everything from fighting infection to synthesising DNA. It’s essential to keep optimal levels of selenium in your body during the colder months as a low level of this mineral can contribute to the development of anxiety and depression.
4 SALMON
Salmon is a fatty fish that is rich in omega-3 acids, some of which can be linked to lower levels of depression and a reduction in anxiety, making it perfect for consumption when dealing with winter blues. Research is still ongoing, but the benefits of omega-3s are supported by studies from the National Library of Medicine.
5 DARK LEAFY GREENS
Green vegetables are known to promote good mental and physical health as they’re packed with vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, vitamin C and K – making them a great all-rounder throughout the year, but with particular benefit in winter when we may need the extra boost.
6 ALMONDS
Almonds are another great source of tryptophan and magnesium and have many health benefits including helping to promote a stable attitude and sleep, making them a perfect snack for dealing with January blues.
7 DARK CHOCOLATE
The last food on our list to help you deal with January blues is dark chocolate, which is rich in serotonin, flavonoid, and phenylethylamine, all known to boost brain health by supporting blood flow and linked to improved moods.