8 Mood-booster Foods To Combat Stress And Depression

Nutrition is one of the most overlooked factors when it comes to treating stress, anxiety and depression. Strong social support system and regular exercise are no doubt very important, but you must also know that your level of happiness, your mood and the state of your mind can get affected quite significantly depending upon what you eat. Therefore, you have to be very careful with your diet plan. Following is a brief rundown on eight foods that can boost your mood and calm your nerves down.

Here Are 8 Mood-booster Foods To Combat Stress And Depression:

Turkey

When it comes to beating depression, most lean sources of protein are considered to be good, but turkey is undoubtedly the best among them because it is a rich source of tryptophan also. Tryptophan stimulates the production of serotonin in your body. Serotonin is a chemical that acts as an anti-depression agent and helps you to be in a happy, positive mood.

Avocados

The creamy fruits of avocados contain plenty of vitamin B, vitamin E, beta-carotene and lutein. Also, avocados are loaded with a substance called glutathione that prevents oxidative damage in your body by blocking the intestinal absorption of certain foods. The combined effect of all these ingredients is that they keep your body and mind stress free. A good way to include turkey in your diet is to have it sliced on sandwiches.

Cabbage

According to the American Association for Cancer research, cabbage is a super food that protects your body from all kinds of cancers, heart disease, hypertension, various types of infections, and most importantly, stress, anxiety and depression. Cabbage is packed with loads of vitamin B6, vitamin C and vitamin K. Besides that, it is also an excellent source of copper, folate, vitamin B1, potassium, dietary fiber and manganese. All these ingredients are very effective in boosting your mood. Though drinking cabbage soup is the best, there are a variety of other ways too to include cabbage in your diet. For example, you can fry it and mix it in your regular dish. Alternatively, you can have sliced cabbage in your salad.

Cashews

When you are depressed, the level of zinc in your body drops significantly. Therefore, an awesome way to get you back into a positive, healthy and stress-free mood is to include zinc-rich foods in your diet. Cashews are a rich source for zinc. One ounce serving can provide your body with 11% of your daily need of zinc. It is very important for you to keep in mind that our bodies are naturally not designed to store zinc. Therefore, make sure you include some cashews in your daily diet plan. You can have them fried or raw.

Walnuts

Walnuts are an excellent source of mind-healthy protein and heart-healthy fats. But, what makes walnuts an awesome diet remedy to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and depression is the very fact that they are super rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which play a crucial role in maintaining your overall brain health.

Berries

All types of berries, including blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries contain a very rich amount of vitamin C, which is a scientifically proven substance that helps in fighting stress and anxiety. Blueberries, in particular, can be very effective in combating depression and boosting your mood because it provides your body with a high level of anthocyanin as well. Anthocyanin is a powerful antioxidant that stimulates sharper cognition. Therefore, if you are keen on combatting anxiety, it would be a great idea to replace other fruits from your diet with more and more berries.

Chocolate

There are loads of scientific evidences now that support the age-old claim that eating chocolates can actually bring you out of depression. Chocolates are an excellent source of brain-healthy antioxidants, such as flavonols and polyphenols. In particular, dark chocolates can be very beneficial in fighting stress and anxiety. However, you must have it in moderation. Do not overeat. To keep depression at bay, you can consider having chocolates as snacks at least once every week.

Green Tea

Green tea calms your nerves and keeps you in a positive frame of mind. So, consider replacing your regular coffee and tea with it. Though green tea also contains caffeine, but it contains an additional substance called theanine as well. Theanine is an amino acid which enhances your mental performance and acts as a brain booster. Two cups of green tea daily can be very helpful in keeping your nerves calm and relaxed.

Though the foods mentioned above play a crucial role in combating depression, but to get optimum benefits, you must also avoid certain things, such as cigarettes and alcohol. Drink plenty of water daily and get into the habit of doing regular exercise.