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You have finals to study for and parties to attend, so dullness only seems natural. On top of that, you might be away from home and feeling lonely. While you’re feeling stressed, there is an easy way to lift your mood instantly. You just need to tweak your meal a little! Take support from your old friend ‘natural food’. Foods such as Brazil nuts and bananas can boost your mood and actually surprise you with the results. Remember, in addition to eating healthy, it is essential to motivate yourself to work out regularly.
Exams, parties, and everything else in between will become a breeze when you learn how to come out of a slump without having to chug energy drinks. All foods here are natural, and you don’t have to gorge. Just eat normally, and you will notice unexpected, subtle, uplifting changes to your mood.
1. Brazil Nuts
The best natural food to lift your mood instantly is selenium-rich Brazil nuts. This super-food is one of the best sources of selenium. Selenium is found in nuts and seeds, whole grains such as oatmeal and brown rice, beans and legumes, meat, and seafood. Brazil nuts have vast quantities of selenium to give your mood an instant boost. A healthy quantity of Brazil nuts will ensure you’re smiling in just a few minutes.
2. Bananas
Bananas can do wonders for your mood. They have plenty of iron, potassium, carbohydrates, vitamins such as C, A, and more importantly, B6, to boost your mood in an instant. Vitamin B6 plays an important part in helping your body generate the feel-good hormone (serotonin). As your brain makes this hormone, your bad mood will start to vanish, and you will be ready to study for finals in a few moments. For students, bananas and Brazil nuts are the best foods for boosting your mood for one big reason: both are perfectly portable and easily available everywhere in the country.
3. Yogurt
Yogurt is great when you are depressed, as it contains Vitamin D and calcium, key elements that help fight depression. Yogurt can also help your body fight heart disease and cancer. Lack of vitamin D can make your life difficult as a student, especially during the winter months. You get enough sunlight during the summer months, but with not as much sun around, your mood will surely go damp unless you include vitamin D in your diet. Thankfully, yogurt is rich in this important vitamin. If you don’t like how yogurt tastes, simply add a few fresh berries or chopped bananas on top to enjoy a fruity snack.
IDEA – How about adding some Brazil nuts to your yogurt the next time you fancy a mood-lifting super food?
4. Lentil soup
Lentil soup is a fantastic food. It can become an ally in fighting the cold weather, while helping you lift your mood instantly. Lentils, known for stabilizing blood sugar levels, also helps your brain produce serotonin. Serotonin can change your mood by making you happier all of a sudden. Lentils are also great for fighting depression and anxiety due to folate, and for an instant energy boost because of the iron.
5. Spinach
Spinach and other foods rich in vitamin B can help you feel better instantly. Deficiency of this vitamin can lead to depression and disturb serotonin production, preventing your brain from entering a ‘feel good’ mood. Since spinach is a rich source of vitamin B (B3, B6, B12), adding it to your soups or fries could provide the required mood boost for students who struggle with mood swings.
6. Sardines
You need Omega 3 fatty acids to alleviate depression and uplift your mood. Find any quick recipe for a sardine snack or toast for an uplifting lunch and you will be surprised how an intake of Omega 3 fatty acid can change the way your brain thinks.
Secret: 30% of your brain is made up of Omega 3 fatty tissues. Other than uplifting your mood, consuming sardines will also help you fight against different diseases and inflammation. This natural food also contains a rich variety of other essential minerals and vitamins. Additionally, sardines are considered a powerful ally against blood sugar problems and weight gain problems.
7. Shellfish
Deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to depression and anxiety. Shellfish, oysters, mussels, and other seafood rich in vitamin B12 could work wonders to boost your mood. Apart from vitamin B12, shellfish also provides a boost of Omega 3 fatty acids and important minerals such as copper, magnesium, and zinc. This seafood is also a rich source of proteins. So what are you waiting for? Find one of these natural foods around you and boost your mood. Enjoy a happy and bright day.
This article was contributed by guest author Evelyn Kail.