Foods That Can Change Your Mood

Food plays an important role in the way we feel mentally and physically. A poor diet of junk food and takeouts can wreak havoc on your skin, lead to weight gain and leave you feeling tired and sluggish. Introducing healthier foods with key ingredients is the easiest and quickest way to feel happier, more positive and stave off depression.

Fish and Seafood

• Oily fish such as sardines, tuna, trout, herring, salmon and mackerel are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that can help to enhance mood and improve memory. Accredited dietitian Caitlin Reid, author of the health website Health & The City, notes: "Omega-3s actually make up a big part of the brain and if you eat more of them, you are less likely to be depressed." Other mood-boosting seafood includes prawn and lobster that contain B vitamins and minerals, releasing the "feel good" hormone known as serotonin in the brain.

Dark Chocolate

• Although chocolate is often viewed as a classic unhealthy comfort food, dark chocolate in small quantities is believed to improve our sense of well-being. Good quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content contains flavanoids, anti-oxidants and theobromine that are thought to work as an anti-depressant. However, an article in Australia's "Herald Sun" newspaper warns that "the chocolate cure only works for some personality types. For comfort eaters, gorging on chocolate can have negative impacts."

Fruit and Vegetables

• From a young age, we are encouraged to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. They are good for our psychical well-being and also play a vital role in how we feel. Fruits high in amino acids, including bananas, avocado, blueberries and pineapple, help to release serotonin in the brain which is responsible for elevating mood. Strawberries are thought to stabilize blood sugar and help to reduce irritability brought on by sugar cravings. Antioxidant-rich green, leafy vegetables including broccoli, lettuce and spinach also contain vitamins that fight off stress.

Carbohydrates

• Many individuals who have tried a drastically reduced carbohydrate diet often complain of mood swings, depression, anger and irritability as some of the common side effects. Complex carbohydrates such as wholemeal pasta, potatoes and bread have been associated with relaxation, according to "Be You magazine". The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Clinical Research Center reports, "A lack of dietary carbohydrates causes the brain to stop regulating serotonin" which therefore results in low moods.