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Mood Boosting Foods
What you eat has a big impact on how you feel. Are you in a bad mood? And even a video with cats does not help? Perhaps you just do not have enough of these foods in your diet.
Mood Uplifting Products: Egg Yolks
Egg yolks are an excellent source of vitamin D, which is a regulator of serotonin synthesis in the brain. Serotonin plays a critical role in a variety of brain processes and functions, including putting a hand on mood.
There is one important point to keep in mind: not all yolks are created equal. Eggs from free-range chickens are more useful since birds have the opportunity to leave the premises and enjoy the sun’s rays, which contain the notorious vitamin D. Eggs from their less happy friends – indoor hens – do not carry such a benefit.
Mood Uplifting Products: Chocolate
Researchers have repeatedly concluded that the consumption of dark chocolate reduces the secretion of cortisol (the so-called “stress hormone”) in the short term, i.e. the moment you find yourself in a critical situation. Scientists believe this is due to the flavonoid (antioxidant) content of this excellent food. Maybe that’s why we so want to seize a bad mood with chocolate ice cream?
Just remember that there are more flavonoids in dark chocolate with a high content of cocoa products (from 70% and more), and in milk and white chocolate, they are much less.
Mood Uplifting Products: Salmon
Salmon is a food rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are not produced by the body on their own. You can talk about the benefits of omega-3 for hours, but in the context of our question, we will dwell on only one point: these acids increase the production of serotonin and affect the activity of serotonin receptors. And two more words about serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone produced by our bodies that has a wide range of cognitive effects, including mood control.
Unlike chicken eggs, farmed salmon and wild salmon have the same amount of omega-3 fatty acids, so buy fish from the supermarket.
Mood Uplifting Products: Green Tea
Green tea contains L-Theanine, an amino acid that can help fight stress and anxiety. Animal tests have shown that L-Theanine stimulates the production of serotonin, dopamine and GABA (short for gamma-aminobutyric acid), substances that are directly related to mood. We are waiting for more accurate data and research with human participants.
In the East, tea is treated with special reverence, hence the tea ceremonies, legends, and the philosophy of the feast. Green tea is considered a great way of relaxation there.
Mood Uplifting Products: Mushrooms
Let’s draw an analogy with egg yolks; mushrooms contain the same “mood” vitamin D, which controls the production of serotonin. The more mushrooms, the better the mood (and no, we are not talking about that at all).
Nutrition experts advise buying wild-grown mushrooms. As you might have guessed, it’s all about the sun. If mushrooms were grown in a dark room, then they certainly cannot be a good source of vitamin D.
