7 "Good Mood" Foods to Put On Your Grocery List
Food is the best fuel to keep you sharp and operating at an optimal level.
However, when you are stressed, you are more likely to reach for junk than gems. By treating yourself to these delicious and filling delights, you may be able to stay the course more easily without the guilt that adds to your stress!
All are easy to prepare and add to your meals and snacks. You have no excuses, so grab a pen and write them on your shopping list right now.
Guacamole
Avocado is a magical food that tastes creamy and indulgent but whose monounsaturated fats are really good for you. They are rich in Vitamin B, fiber, and potassium, which help keep you energized and less likely to binge. Mash a couple of them with a little lime juice, garlic, cumin, and salt, then let it sit for a couple of hours. Throw in some diced cherry tomatoes, then dip some chips and go! It’s also delectable as a spread. Every ingredient is good for you, so what are you waiting for?
Dark Chocolate
Not only does this treat make you feel like you’re being decadent, but it also activates the release of stress-relieving hormones and boosts your mood. A small dose daily will cut back on the level of cortisol coursing through your veins and fire up your brain in a good way. Since it’s low in sugar and rich in flavonoids, your body will thank you.
Make sure you get the good stuff, with more than 70 percent of cocoa. You can get similar benefits from adding dry cocoa to smoothies or your morning coffee, as long as you restrain yourself from adding sugar to either of them.
Pistachios
What could be more Zen than taking time to crack open a few dozen nuts and savoring each one? This simple act makes you enjoy every bite while blocking out the world to have a little feast.
As a bonus, you’ll be eating nuts that carry antioxidant and anti-inflammatory elements into your body. By making you more immune, you will be better braced to cope with stress. Keep the amounts to less than a cup since these do pack a lot of calories. Compost the shells and you’ll feel even better about producing less garbage.
Spinach, Kale, and Their Leafy Friends
The crunch of a good salad reminds you of how rich and full life can be. Enjoy the freshness of these veggies while absorbing folate and other B vitamins. You’ll also get some much-needed magnesium, which is great for your brain. Eating greens lowers your risk for depression.
If you’re not a fan of salads, throw some leaves – kale, spinach, or celery – into a smoothie where you won’t even know they are there. Spinach digests better when blanched, so boil it briefly and squeeze out the excess water.
Wild Salmon
Take a walk on the wild side! Fish raised in nature produce omega-3 fatty acids to survive, and they help you do the same. These oils support the ones that make your brain whir, making it more resistant to stress and depression. Salmon also has filling protein and traces of tryptophan, which triggers happy-hormone serotonin, just like turkey does. You can find key omega-3 oils in mackerel, trout, and sardines as well.
Green Tea
This tea is less processed than others, maintaining higher levels of a stress-busting amino acid known as L-theanine. This ingredient calms neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, and makes you relax without nodding off. It is a great evening brew to replace more highly caffeinated drinks that fire up your brain and keep it awake.
If you’re not a tea drinker, purchase dried matcha powder instead and slip it into smoothies or your water bottle for the same effects.
Once you’ve incorporated these calming ingredients into your diet, watch for other foods and drinks that help you wind down after a full day. Over time, you can redo your diet and enrich your life even more.
Take Stress Relief One Step Further with Trace Minerals
In today's world, even the highest quality foods may not provide an optimal amount of essential trace minerals necessary for stress relief. While indulging in nutrient-rich foods like dark chocolate, nuts, and leafy greens is a great start, these sources may not always contain sufficient levels of minerals like magnesium, zinc, and selenium – crucial for managing stress.
Magnesium, known as nature's relaxation mineral, plays a pivotal role in calming the nervous system and promoting relaxation. Zinc supports cognitive function and mood regulation, helping to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Selenium contributes to the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, which influences mood and energy levels.
Despite our best efforts to consume a balanced diet, modern agricultural practices and soil depletion have led to a decline in the mineral content of our food. This deficiency underscores the importance of supplementing our diet with essential trace minerals to support overall well-being and enhance stress relief efforts.
To help you fill in the gaps, our Trace Minerals Essentials are ideal for use in times of stress, sickness, intense exercise, after surgeries, or if you’re depleting your mineral stores with regular over-the-counter or prescription meds. This product is iron-free and utilizes the finest chelated minerals from Albion Advanced Nutrition for optimal absorption.
Reference
1. https://medium.com/@poetpete/https-medium-com-poetpete-5-surprising-stress-relief-foods-59983b001964
