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Foods That Make You Feel Happy

The foods you eat can influence the way you feel. Eating fatty, sugary foods may make you happy for the moment, but after a while you feel fatigued and tired. These foods quickly spike your blood sugar after consumption, giving you a short-lived energy rush. Their quick digestion drastically lowers your blood sugar, resulting in fatigue and tiredness. For food to make you happy, it must stimulate the neurotransmitters in your brain which control your mood.

  1. Complex Carbohydrates

    • Complex carbohydrates such as oatmeal, whole-wheat pasta and sweet potatoes digest slowly and make you feel satiated longer. They also stimulate serotonin in your brain which makes you feel happy. Without carbohydrates, your body cannot produce serotonin. These starchy foods provide your brain with tryptophan, an amino acid that stimulates serotonin production, resulting in a calm, happy and relaxed feeling.

    Cocoa

    • Chocolate makes many people happy just because of its pleasant taste. It also contains cocoa which stimulates your body's feel-good hormone. Cocoa contains phenylethylamine, a substance that lifts your mood. When consuming cocoa, your body produces more endorphins and you experience a high, happy feeling. Women suffering from premenstrual syndrome often crave chocolate and can benefit from consuming some, because it works as a mild antidepressant and mood lifter.

    Oranges and Bananas

    • A lack of vitamin C can make you feel irritable, and prevents you body from absorbing iron from the foods you consume. A lack of iron makes you feel fatigued and tired. Oranges and orange juice can combat moodiness and depression. Drink two glasses or orange juice to get your daily dose, or take a vitamin C supplement. Bananas contain magnesium, which fights fatigue and combats bad moods. They also promote serotonin production, therefore improving your mood.

    Milk

    • Milk contains calcium and vitamin D. Calcium keeps your blood pressure stable and helps relax your muscles. Drinking warm milk before bedtime is, therefore, soothing. Vitamin D in milk improves your mood because it stimulates serotonin production. Other vitamin D-rich foods with a similar affect include soy milk, fish with bones, and egg yolks. Instead of getting vitamin D from food, you can also take a multivitamin every day.

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