There are certain things that bring joy to life, exercising is one of them, being in a relationship is another. Studies have shown that a single bout of physical activity can result in improved executive functions, enhanced mood states, and decreased stress levels. But you can’t always be certain that you’ll be in a relationship or that you’ll have the ability to exercise all the time so what other way can we improve our mood? The answer is…. food, there’s always food. Apart from just tasting good, there are certain foods that really do have the power to brighten your day and improve your mood. If ever you’re feeling down then here are 3 foods that you can try out.
#1 Turmeric
Turmeric is a bright yellow spice that has been used in India as a spice and, interestingly enough, a medicinal herb. Turmeric has an active compound called curcumin which helps support cellular health and regulate inflammatory responses. What’s also interesting about curcumin is that it has benefits against depression. In a controlled trial, 60 clinically depressed individuals were put into 3 groups, Group A took Prozac, Group B took curcumin and Group C to both Prozac and curcumin.
After 6 weeks, the group that took both Prozac and curcumin showed the biggest improvement, indicating that dosing with curcumin may have the ability to brighten up your mood. To add to that, a 2014 trial concluded that curcumin helps the body make more DHA—an acid that helps prevent cognitive problems, including anxiety.
#2 Matcha Tea
I used to enjoy drinking Earl Grey Tea and then I discovered Matcha tea and now I have to put poor old Earl as my second favourite tea because Match tea is the BOMB! Not only is it a tasty tea but its rich in phytochemicals (chemical compounds produced by plants). Two of these compounds are called L-theanine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—have been shown to promote a healthy mood state and cognitive performance. A 2017 review demonstrated that L-theanine alone aided self-reported relaxation, tension, and calmness, and, when combined with caffeine (also in matcha), promoted alertness, memory, and the ability to avoid distraction.
#3 Dark Chocolate
Last but certainly not least is dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is made up of cocoa which contains polyphenols (micronutrients that naturally occur in plants). These polyphenols offer myriad benefits including mood-boosting properties. In a 2014 study, 60 stressed out medical students ate different types of chocolate for two weeks. The group that ate dark chocolate reported a decrease in their stress levels and an increase in their positive mood.
Now there could have been many factors that would have improved their mood other than chocolate because this was not a controlled study, but I’m going to give chocolate the benefit of the doubt because c’mon, its chocolate!
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