Lifestyle & Trends | Tips
The Mood-Boosting Superfoods
Jun 19, 2023
If you’re feeling gloomy, it’s time to grab an avocado, green tea or even chocolate. Research shows that getting the right nutrients over time can improve mood, tame stress, and even help fight depression.
![variety of chocolate bars](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.ctfassets.net%2F0dkgxhks0leg%2F4qtEoMc2jV60CHdFxeglNt%2Fd87bec583ce3f09aaf2b1ddca24c3759%2Fvariety_of_chocolate_bars.jpeg%3Ffm%3Dwebp&w=640&q=75)
Chocolate
Rich in antioxidants, eating a little dark chocolate could brighten up a dark mood. In a study done at the Nestlé Research Center in Switzerland, researchers found that eating a little dark chocolate (1.4 ounces of it, to be exact) every day for two weeks reduced the levels of cortisol and other stress hormones in people who were highly stressed.
![halved avocados](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.ctfassets.net%2F0dkgxhks0leg%2Fefeu4IB7VrMCGQeSa6zCw%2Fcd3e291e55045f76c9e5452d7786ae9c%2Fhalved_avocados.png%3Ffm%3Dwebp&w=640&q=75)
Avocado
Avocados are packed full with the goodness needed to lift your mood and brighten your day. Rich in fibre, niacin, vitamin C, omega-3 and folate, avocados are known to help you fight stress and ward off anxiety. The unsaturated fats found in avocados may help keep inflammation at bay and reduce blood pressure too.
![bowl of yogurt](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.ctfassets.net%2F0dkgxhks0leg%2F6TzN7GOLepH61hgfQRyz2q%2F44ea7a206ce0f3bd6d3a14b4136d25e7%2Fbowl_of_yogurt.jpeg%3Ffm%3Dwebp&w=640&q=75)
Yogurt & Other Probiotics
Recent studies in both animals and humans suggest links between balanced gut bacteria and better mood, less stress and anxiety, and lower risk of depression.
![ground green tea](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.ctfassets.net%2F0dkgxhks0leg%2F2AMJ42lmgSfX8qPDB1MQU1%2Fcb4f8472b25d0f06190516d760e2c154%2Fground_green_tea.jpeg%3Ffm%3Dwebp&w=640&q=75)
Green Tea
Sipping a cup of tea is soothing to the senses and calming to the nerves. Green tea is rich is L-theanine, an amino acid that helps fight anxiety. According to a Japanese study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, drinking two to three cups of green tea a day was linked to reduced depression symptoms in elderly people.