How Does Healthy Food Affect Your Mood?

A balanced diet is essential for our physical and mental wellbeing; healthy food has a huge impact on our mood. Eating the right foods can provide us with energy, help us to focus better, and even assist in reducing stress and depression.

Foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates, such as oatmeal, buckwheat, beans, lentils and brown rice are considered to be ‘brain foods’. They contain B vitamins which are important for the production of serotonin – one of the chemicals that affects our mood. Serotonin helps us to feel happier and less anxious; it also helps us to regulate our sleep patterns and appetite.

Eating protein-rich foods like eggs, fish, meat and nuts helps to improve cognitive functions as they contain essential amino acids that are necessary for brain development. As well as this, protein-rich foods help to keep our blood sugar levels stable which can reduce fatigue and irritability.

Fruits and vegetables are also key components of a healthy diet; they contain antioxidants which can help to protect against oxidative stress – a process which is linked with anxiety and depression. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables also ensures we get enough vitamins and minerals; these are beneficial for both physical health and mental wellbeing.

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish such as salmon or tuna, have been linked with improved moods. They contain DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) which has anti-inflammatory properties that can help fight depression.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to improve cognitive function too.

In conclusion, it is clear that eating a balanced diet can have a huge impact on our moods. Eating the right foods can provide us with energy, reduce stress levels, improve cognitive functions, boost serotonin levels and even fight depression. So make sure you include plenty of complex carbohydrates, protein-rich foods, fruits & vegetables as well as omega-3 fatty acids in your diet for optimum mental wellbeing! Conclusion: Eating healthy food has a positive effect on our moods; it provides us with energy to stay focused throughout the day while also reducing stress levels by boosting serotonin production in the brain. Fruits & vegetables provide essential vitamins & minerals while protein-rich foods stabilise blood sugar levels – all of these benefits contribute towards improved mental wellbeing when combined together into an overall balanced diet.