Whether you want to enhance a good mood or fend off a
bad one, choosing your food carefully can help. To find a food to
suit every mood, check out these 10 emotions and their accompanying
snacks.
If you’re feeling in need of a happiness boost, try upping your
intake of oily fish to boost your brain health and mood. Oily fish
is not only rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help ward off
depression, negativity and mood swings, but wild salmon and tuna
are good sources of vitamin B12, which helps to regulate the
mood.
Many people suffer from phobias, ranging from the common (like
acrophobia – fear of heights) to the obscure (like
arachibutyrophobia). However, it may be that your diet is to blame.
Research suggests that folate deficiency may be behind irrational
fears and anxiety, so try upping your intake of folate – as well as
mood-boosting Omega-3 – by snacking on avocado.
Next time you feel a rage coming on, try reaching for some nuts
and seeds to help calm you down. Research has shown that Omega-3
deficiency can contribute to aggressive behaviour of adult
offenders and children with severe behavioural difficulties, while
a Japanese study has suggested that zinc may ease anger in women.
To up your intake of these nutrients, try opting for walnuts and
flaxseeds, which contain both zinc and Omega-3 fatty acids.
Got a big date coming up and want to get in the mood? Try some
foods rich in zinc to stimulate the libido and enhance desire.
While oysters are a famous aphrodisiac due to their high quantities
of zinc, if you’re not a fan of the slimy mollusc, try opting for
shellfish, pine nuts or pumpkin seeds instead.
We all need a confidence boost from time to time, and luckily
you can get a helping hand from your diet to relieve shyness.
Researchers at McGill University in Montreal found that foods
containing tryptophan (an essential amino acid) make people feel
more confident. Good sources of tryptophan include meat
(particularly chicken), fish such as salmon and tuna, and
legumes.
Many people find themselves reaching for chocolate in the face
of heartbreak, and this may be no bad thing. Chocolate contains
many chemicals to beat the breakup blues, including relaxing
magnesium, calming anandamide and mood-boosting phenylethylamine.
Try snacking on dark chocolate (in moderation!) for the most
health benefits.
If you’ve got a big interview or presentation coming up, try
replacing your morning coffee (which can make you jittery) with a
calming herbal tea. The calming effects of chamomile are so
powerful that they have been found to reduce symptoms of mild to
moderate generalised anxiety disorder, so try a cup of chamomile
tea to help calm those last-minute nerves.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by a busy day or are finding
it difficult to wind down after work, try snacking on some
blueberries to help cope with stress. Blueberries are high in
vitamin C, which can help the body deal with high levels of stress.
Also, the superfruit is packed with antioxidants which help to
protect your body from its effects.
If you’re feeling confused, unfocused, forgetful, or like your
mind is just running slow, give your brain a boost with a cup of
green tea. As around 80 per cent of the brain is made up of water,
drinking any fluids will help keep it hydrated and functioning at
optimum levels. However, green tea also helps maintain alertness by
regulating blood sugar levels, and helps protect the brain and cut
risk of dementia.
Whether you’re suffering from a lack of sleep or are generally
feeling lethargic, drinking beetroot juice could help revive your
energy levels. Beetroot has a high sugar content and many
energising nutrients such as magnesium and vitamin C. Furthermore,
researchers at the University of Exeter found that drinking
beetroot juice could enable people to exercise for up to 16 per
cent longer.