What Effect Does Healthy Eating Have on Your Mood

Ever wonder why some meals made you feel good? Sometimes comfort food elevates your mood by triggering the release of endorphins, which brings positive feelings. If you want to maintain a good mood, you need a steady flow of nutrients for your brain to function correctly. That means you need to eat fruits, vegetables, and food rich in folates. Research indicates that 38% of adults with low folate exhibit depressive disorders. Therefore, maintaining a healthy diet can improve your mood, boost your energy, and ensure you are thinking clearly. The following healthy eating habits will help to improve your mood:

Eating regularly

Many people skip meals when they are busy. What they forget to consider is the effect it has on their mood. When your blood sugar is low, you tend to be irritable, tired, and depressed. Therefore, you need to ensure your sugar levels are steady to prevent your mood from taking a nosedive. Slow-release energy carbohydrates can keep your mood in check. Go for pasta, rice, wholegrain cereals, oats, and nuts. Space out your meals in small portions throughout the day and stay clear of high sugar foods like biscuits and sweets that raise your blood sugar rapidly.

Eat enough proteins

Your brain is responsible for controlling your feelings and thoughts. For the brain to function properly, it needs amino acids present in proteins. Taking enough proteins provides better regulation of your mood. Foods that contain protein include fish, eggs, legumes, soy products, lean meat, and seeds.

Taking supplements

The brain utilises several chemicals and hormones to create a mood. Some of them include serotonin found in the gut, thyroid hormones, and dopamine. The presence of these chemicals in your body stabilises your mood. However, if you are already on a healthy diet, but you still experience mood instability, you should try supplements that will elevate your mood naturally.

Take care of your gut

Serotonin is found in the gut and is a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating the mood and feelings. A deficiency in serotonin can lead to anxiety, mood imbalances, and depression. Therefore, if you want to stabilise your mood, you need to take care of your gut. For your gut to function optimally, you should eat fruits, vegetables, and probiotics.

Try a Mediterranean diet

A Mediterranean diet can help to improve the health of your heart. However, do you know that a Mediterranean diet can also prevent depression? Research indicates that 33% of people who maintain a Mediterranean diet are unlikely to develop depressive disorders. The diet contains plenty of vegetables, cereals, fruits, and legumes. These food types provide a range of nutrients and chemicals that help the brain to regulate your mood.

Eat the right fats

Fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, are suitable for the brain. Therefore, you should not avoid all fats; instead, look for healthy fat options found in poultry, nuts, olive, seeds, avocadoes, and sunflower oil. Healthy fats are also excellent mood-stabilisers. However, it would be best if you stayed away from hydrogenated oils.

A healthy diet is crucial to feeling great; excellent nutrition improves your emotional well-being and keeps you energised. However, your diet should not substitute medication.