Boost Your Mood with Food

I'm an emotional eater. If I'm ever feeling down or worried or angry, I'll turn to food. Food in general makes me feel better, but until recently, I didn't know there was a science behind foods that boost your mood. Here are the top five foods that will make you feel better:

1) Chocolate
The Nestlé Research Center recently discovered that dark chocolate helps reduce stress hormones, like cortisol due to its high levels of antioxidants. Similarly, chocolate contains other chemical compounds that are also found in marijuana.

http://www.metro.us/newyork/lifestyle/2013/04/07/can-chocolate-be-good-for-you/

2) Fruits
Like chocolate, fruits contain high levels of antioxidants, which subsequently reduce the production of hormones that cause stress. Oranges and papaya in particular have a lot of vitamin B6 and folic acid, which depressed patients are often low in.

http://www.stanshealth.com/2013/08/a-list-of-top-10-fruits.html

3) Carbs
According to research, carbs help produce seratonin, which boosts mood. Those on a low-carb diet tend to be more susceptible to depression. As long as you eat carbs in controlled quantities, you should eat away!

http://theleanbody.com/fat-loss-tips/good-carb-bad-carb-5-carb-secrets-for-getting-lean

4) Tea
Black, green, or oolong tea contains caffeine that will help with attention and focus. Amino acid in the tea will also help with brain health, helping to reduce your chances of depression and increasing brain productivity.

http://superchargedhuman.com/sch-guide-to-tea/

5) Coconut
Just the scent of coconut can help reduce your "fight or flight" response, thus both reducing your blood pressure and your heart rate. These changes in your body will cause you to feel less stressed. In addition, the scent helps with alertness. Since your nose is connected to your taste buds, both tasting and consuming coconut will only help to decrease stress.

http://www.weeatplants.com/coconutoil

Sources:
- http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/how-food-affects-your-moods
-http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/mind_body_spirit_center/7_foods_to_boost_your_mood_naturally
-http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/02/food-affects-mood.aspx
-http://www.oprah.com/health/Foods-That-Boost-Your-Mood-Food-That-Improves-Your-Mood