5 Foods That Will Help Put You in a Better Mood By: Aria de Lima Sometimes, things just happen. Maybe work is hectic, you spilled coffee on your favourite sweater, the kids are driving you crazy or you missed the bus. Whatever it is, life is bound to stress you out at some point. Here are five foods to help improve your mood and hopefully reduce some of your stress.
1) Chocolate According to a review from 2017, cocoa powder, an ingredient in chocolate, releases endorphins in a small section at the base of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus controls emotions, the release of hormones and appetite. Endorphins are hormones that relieve pain and stress and trigger the same receptors and feelings as the opioid drug. Dark chocolate is usually recommended as the healthiest choice because it has the highest concentration of cocoa powder.
2) Strawberries Strawberries are known to normalize blood pressure levels. This helps prevent a change in high and low energy throughout the day. Keeping your energy levels steady helps discourage mood swings. Strawberries are also an excellent source of vitamin C. A study done in 2015 showed that vitamin C can help reduce anxiety. Enjoy them on their own, blend them into a smoothie or pair them with some dark chocolate for a perfect stress relieving snack.
