Delicious Picks to Help You FEEL SUNNIER TODAY

Dark, chilly days leave 65 percent of women battling blue moods and fatigue. To the rescue: nutrient-rich fare proven to lift spirits and increase energy by 54 percent — in 30 minutes or less!

1 COFFEE ACTIVATES FEEL-GOOD BRAIN WAVES

The rich flavor and aroma of coffee ramps up the production of bliss-inducing alpha brain waves within 3 minutes, report scientists at the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. Hint: Sniff slowly and deeply three times before taking a sip. This allows coffee’s aromatic oils to activate the brain’s emotional control center, which is key to a quick mood boost.

2 SALMON SOOTHES STRESS GLANDS

Eating one 6 oz. serving (the size of two decks of cards) of salmon weekly cuts your risk of winter blues by 24 percent — and three weekly servings can double your all-day happiness scores, say Finnish researchers. The reason? Salmon is rich in DHA, an omega-3 fat that calms the adrenal glands, tamping down production of the mood-sapping stress hormone cortisol.

4 BROCCOLI BOOSTS MOOD-LIFTING GABA

This nutritional powerhouse can help keep your spirits high, even when you’re bogged down by busyness. The credit goes to inositol, a B vitamin that increases the production of the calming brain chemical GABA, say Stanford researchers. Their studies suggest that enjoying 1 cup of broccoli four times a week lifts dull moods and eases irritability by as much as 35 percent.

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POTATOES ELEVATE SEROTONIN

Whether you love ’em baked, boiled or roasted, enjoying 1 cup of spuds can perk up your mood by 54 percent in 30 minutes, say researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. That’s because potatoes contain a unique blend of amino acids and minerals that increase the body’s production of the antidepressant hormone serotonin.

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CHEESECAKE UPS HAPPY HORMONES

Enjoying a piece of cheesecake can fill you with a happy energy that keeps you feeling good for hours, a UCLA study suggests. The reason: Cream cheese contains two amino acids that prod the brain to produce dopamine, a brain chemical that helps increase energy and lift mood. Plus, casein in the sweet treat spurs the release of mood-boosting opiate hormones.