Mood Boosting Foods

By Ana Mantica, "Eat to Beat the Blues," March/April 2010

Boost your mood with these uplifting foods.

READER'S COMMENT:

"I just love some good ice cream; sometimes with a banana or other fruits like strawberries. I try not to eat too much, but I probably always over do it. "

1. Pick fruit, vegetables, fish and other whole foods.

In a recent study of close to 3,500 men and women published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, those who reported eating a diet rich in whole foods in the previous year were less likely to report feeling depressed than those who ate lots of desserts, fried foods, processed meats, refined grains and high-fat dairy products. Previous studies have shown that antioxidants in fruits and vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids in fish are associated with lower risk of depression. Folate, a B vitamin found in dark green vegetables like spinach, beans and citrus, affects neurotransmitters that impact mood. It’s possible that the protective effect of the whole-food diet comes from a cumulative effect of these nutrients, says lead study author Tasnime N. Akbaraly, Ph.D.

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