5 MOOD-ENHANCING INGREDIENTS TO ADD TO YOUR MEALS

5 Mood-Enhancing Ingredients

When you’re upset, it’s easy to resort to food to cheer yourself up. However, the sugary, high-calorie sweets many people turn to have their own set of detrimental repercussions. As a result, you may question if any nutritious meals might help you feel better.

Recently, studies on the link between diet and mental health have been published. However, besides a person’s diet, numerous things can impact mood, including stress, the environment, inadequate sleep, heredity, and dietary inadequacies.

Nonetheless, studies have shown that some meals can help with overall brain health and specific forms of mood problems. As a result, you are determining whether eating can lift your spirits. Apart from this, you might also use THC to enhance your mood.

What is THC-O?

Are you also wondering,  ”What is THC-O” Well, THC-O is a healthier, less psychoactive form of THC contained in marijuana. It’s shown to have mood-enhancing properties but doesn’t have the same addictive potential as regular THC.

5 Ingredients To Add To Your Meals For Mood Enhancement

1.- Eggs

Protein and omega-3 fatty acids are two main elements in eggs crucial for raising our spirits. Protein in eggs keeps our blood sugar levels in check.

2.- Salmon

Salmon also includes omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, which are essential for the health of our bones, teeth, and muscles. 

3.- Leafy greens

Leafy greens include potent antioxidant components, including vitamin E, vitamin C, and different phytochemicals, which can help raise your mood.

Antioxidants are essential for your health because they battle free radicals, which can harm your cells. Antioxidant-rich foods can help you maintain a positive mood by reducing inflammation in your body and brain.

4.- Lentils and beans

Beans and similar carbohydrates that are slowly digested by the body help minimize cravings for less healthful carbs, leading to volatile blood sugar swings, which can induce moodiness and irritability. These complex carbohydrates also contain fiber that benefits your microbiota and resistant starch, which helps keep your blood sugar steady and reduces the probability of mood swings.

5.- Mushrooms

Although the sun is the most apparent source of vitamin D, mushrooms may also supply this vital nutrient! According to a study, Vitamin D-rich foods are essential for bone health and brain function.

Some other natural products that might uplift your mood

• Turmeric

Turmeric has been utilized in Ayurvedic medicine for its anti-inflammatory effects for centuries. Furthermore, it has the potential to alter your mood.

Turmeric’s key component, curcumin, has been shown to increase serotonin and dopamine levels, neurotransmitters aiding sadness and anxiety.

Studies have found curcumin to aid with mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety, and other illnesses linked to mood disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or dementia, by lowering inflammation and brain cell death caused by oxidative stress.

• Ginger

Ginger root is a common spice used in cooking. It has been used for thousands of years for its potential anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, and mood-enhancing properties.

Studies have shown ginger might help fight depression after being taken over several weeks.

Ginger contains high amounts of antioxidants called gingerols, which are thought to be responsible for many of its potential health benefits. When consumed regularly, ginger may reduce inflammation in the brain and treat mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Key strategies to help improve and balance your mood

We all feel down from time to time, and eating may help elevate our spirits and enhance our view of life. There are a few essential dietary guidelines to help you improve and balance your mood with food:

• Maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Our blood sugar levels might be reduced if we skip meals, eat irregularly, or eat sugary meals and snacks. It causes a hormonal imbalance, including stress hormones, which can make us irritated, moody, or ‘hangry.’ Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, has even been related to sadness and anxiety. Each meal and snack should include complex carbs, protein, fat, and fiber to check your blood sugar levels.
• Consume healthy fats. The nervous system needs fats to function correctly. Our brains are roughly 60% fat, and healthy fats enhance brain function and integrity, boost neurotransmitter generation, and decrease inflammation.
• Consume your amino acids (protein). Certain amino acids, protein’s building blocks, are precursors to brain neurotransmitters that help maintain balance and improve our mood.
• Obtain B vitamins. The B vitamin family helps to relieve stress and strengthen the neurological system. Many B vitamins are also cofactors in neurotransmitters and brain function formation.

What if you don’t feel like cooking?

If you’re feeling low, you might not feel like or have the energy to prepare mood-boosting dishes from home. Here are a few ideas to help you make your mood-enhancing meals a reality.

Make the most of the good moments through meal planning. Prepare a few items in advance and freeze them for later when you’re ready.

Soup and chili are ideal one-pot dinners because they can be made in large amounts and frozen in portions. You might also bake muffins, prepare smoothie kits, or prepare other preferred meals.

Purchase time-saving products or equipment to help you with your workload. Slow cookers and instant pots can help lighten the load a little; you’ll still need to do some prep work, but once that’s done, meals come together quickly.

Make it straightforward. Make a smoothie, avocado toast, or a vegetable omelet if you want to be more adventurous. You don’t have to spend too much extra time in the kitchen to gain the advantages of mood-boosting meals.

Remember that you are doing your best. Make an effort not to be too harsh on yourself. When you have the time, cook, and when you don’t, choose excellent store-bought options.

Final Thoughts

Food has a tremendous impact on your mood. Therefore, it makes sense to consume things that make you happy! We frequently consider the value of food in terms of its health advantages, but did you know that some meals may also help you increase your productivity and focus? Well, now you do.