Feeling depressed? Anxious? Moody? Apart from relaxation exercises, you may wish to consider eating certain mood-boosting food to get you out of your funk and back into sweet serenity! Here are some food that are known to positively turn sad into glad!


WALNUTS

Walnuts (available in most supermarkets like SM) contain omega-3s, vitamin B6, tryptophan, protein and folate. Higher blood le­vels of omega-3s have been linked with better mood and lower rates of depression, while lower blood levels of omega-3s have been associated with higher rates of depression and negative feelings. Omega-3s and uridine (another substance found in walnuts, which plays an important role in helping metabolize carbohydrates) worked in the same way as standard antidepressant medications.


SUNFLOWER SEEDS


Sunflower seeds contain folate and magnesium. These two substances aid in regulating and boosting mood. A handful of sunflower seeds delivers half the daily recommended amount of magnesium.

Let us tackle magnesium first. When magnesium is deficient in the body, a person will have feelings of fatigue, nervousness and anxiety. Proper magnesium levels, help us achieve a calm and relaxed state which is important in order to achieve a good mood. Magnesium supplements have been prescribed by doctors in order to treat major depression, suicidal tendencies, anxiety, irritability and insomnia.

Folate (also known as vitamin B9 and as folic acid) is a B-complex vitamin that’s closely linked with nervous system function. Folate deficiency may result in feelings of irritability, depression and brain fog, as well as insomnia which easily leads to dep­ression and irritability.

Sunflower seeds are also a good source of tryptophan and are often recommended by nutritional experts as a natural method of boos­ting serotonin levels (sero­tonin is the chemical that is present when one is happy).


CHOCOLATE

There is a very good reason why depressed people eat lots of chocolate! Chocolate contains a se­veral substances that elevate mood, including fat, sugar, caffeine, phenylethylamine, flavonols, theobromine and tryptophan.

Caffeine and theobromine are two naturally occurring stimulants found in chocolate. Along with sugar and fat, these substances provide a swift burst of energy and mood-lifting power. Chocolate also contains the mood-boosting compounds phenylethy­lamine, tyramine, tryptophan and magnesium. Chocolate also has the ability to lift our moods by just being itself! It has a rich, mouth-pleasing texture; an intense taste; and an appealing aroma. It does not matter if you are eating the locally-produced Choconut or the relatively expensive Ferrero Roche, chocolate tastes, smells and makes us feel good!

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