Did you know that certain foods can actually have an effect on your mood? I didn’t until recently when I was trying to think of what to give out at our first Happster meet up. I wanted to give something that people would not just enjoy eating, but also positively affects their mood.
Here are my main findings about mood-boosting foods:
Vitamin B
- These vitamins are also called “anti-stress vitamins”
- They balance your mood and can help ease your anxiety
- Some foods with vitamin B include asparagus, nuts, brown rice, bananas, and beans
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- They are known to be brain-boosting and help keep anger in check
- There have been studies that show they may help fight depression
- Some foods with omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, sardines, flax seeds and walnuts
Vitamin D
- Vitamin D regulates serotonin, dopamine and other mood hormones
- Studies have shown vitamin D can help combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Some foods with vitamin D include fortified milk and orange juice, sardines, eggs, mushrooms, salmon and tuna
Phenylethylamine
- Phenylethylamine is a mild alkaloid stimulant that your body produces as a byproduct of the amino acid phenylalanine
- They lift your mood, perception and awareness
- Some foods with Phenylethylamine include chocolate, eggs, soybeans, nuts and seeds
I don’t know about you, but I was particularly happy to see chocolate on the list of happy foods! I’m just scratching the surface with mood-boosting foods and am sure there is a much longer list than I’ve provided here.
Are there any foods that boost your mood?
Not an official Happster yet? Get free happy notes here: http://tinyurl.com/imahappster
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Sources:
omega-3 fatty acids: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=84
Mood Boosting Foods: http://www.elliekrieger.com/mood-boosting-foods
The Top 10 Natural Sources of Vitamin D in Food: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/sources-of-vitamin-d-in-foods#slide-5
Foods with Phenylethylamine: http://www.livestrong.com/article/528433-foods-with-phenylethylamine
Top Ten Happy Foods: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/joybauernutrition/top-ten-happy-foods
happsters.com 
Reblogged this on My adventures while writing book one and commented:
🙂 love it
I ate a lot of B vitamin pills during my honors year. It really helped my anxiety, and also helped me to stop smoking cigarettes. Thanks for this great post 🙂
Thanks so much for your comment. Incredible that it helped you stop smoking. Stay happy!
Cheers!
Good post! Thanks!
Hello Happster! You instantly inspired me. Read your great article, went straight to the kitchen for a bananna and now have a happy face. I think I’ll start a new grocery list by nutritional content. Can that be done? Hmmm. There should be an app for that! Maybe there is? Much gratitude.
Great information. Thanks.
Durians are the King of All Fruit and definitely a mood booster. In fact, they make you so high it’s not a good idea to eat them at night. Best as a morning or afternoon treat. They have more vitamins than any other fruit. And absolutely delicious.
Hi Happster, thanks for the info above (and following me). I will certainly need alternative mood boosters for the next year! 🙂
This is a great piece! Avocado is definitely a happy food, too. Not only delicious but loaded with vitamins, good fat, lowers one’s cholesterol and makes one giddy. 🙂
I love love love avocado! Great addition!
Reblogged this on My Journey with Holistic Psychiatry and commented:
Diet has been an important part of my life since I was an early teenager. At first I began the healthy route with weight watchers crackers and small portion sizes. When I went to college for fashion, it was nutrition and biology which grabbed my attention most of all.
Now on this journey with holistic psychiatry, Dr. Gurevich has educated me on how our mood and stability are inextricably linked to our nutrient intake.
I am inspired by this article, “Top Foods that Make you Happy.” After reading it, I went straight to the kitchen for a banana which contains vitamin B an anti-stress vitamin.
I think that while the supplements are a good tool for now, in the long term finding the most important mood lifters in food will be the best way to maintaining my health. For now, I can begin to practice shopping and eating with this new knowledge. Thank you, The Happsters!
Very useful information. Thanks for this post.
Good job! Love it!
Rob
Thanks so much!
love it!
Reblogged this on The Treasure Trove and commented:
I just found this blog and even if you are like Mr. Darcy in the first parts of “Pride and Prejudice,” (who also resembles my husband’s temperament here), you still just might find some itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny bit of a glimpse of sunshine wanting to get through the hatches you’ve battened down so very tightly! 😀
After my stroke, and ensuing recovery, all I wanted to eat was tuna – it was the only thing that tasted like I imagined it would and I absolutely craved it –
Guess the Universe knew I needed some happiness and vitamins to recover – – LOL
Wow incredible!!
Great info! I love me some chocolate and try to keep it in the house at all times. 🙂
Some foods are just fun to eat. Like green grapes. I like how they burst when you bite into them, and their tart sweetness. Little things can be so pleasurable.
This post was very interesting! I am glad to see that I already eat many of these foods 🙂 I find that chocolate always leads to a feel good feeling, as does eating avocados (at least I am happy when I am eating them). Thank you for checking out my blog and I can’t wait to read more about your happiness posts. One of my favorite blogs is Gretchen Rubin’s blog, The Happiness Project.
I like to slice bananas and freeze them for a sweet mood boosting treat. Now I’m going to try them chocolate dipped & topped with chopped almonds! I’m feeling good just thinking about it. Grateful for this good info. Thanks!
Thank you for following my blog! I really like this post on “happy foods”, I think you’ve inspired me into making a new dish with these foods in the future!
Did you say chocolate?? 🙂
Very nice post! 🙂 And hey-can I add chocolate?Without anyone accusing me that that chocolate doesnt belong here…:) And it doesnt.It belongs to hedostic thought of mine thatI have this morning on my day 3 of fitting myself into old jeans. 😀
Tuna makes ME very happy 🙂
Reblogged this on Vintage Dramachine.
Love that chocolate is a happy food! So glad you shared.
Where do you meetup?
Our first meet up will be in San Diego! Where are you from?
I’m copying these foods to my grocery list on the iPhone right now!
chocolate always makes me in a good mood. 🙂 Great post
Thank you for this post, nice list and great resources! Your blog and initiative inspires me so much! Thank you!
Thank you! I never thought about how foods can help boost happiness. I learned something by reading this.