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| Instead of doctors writing a prescription for antidepressants, should they just send you to the grocery store to load up on dark chocolate and bananas?
The time has come to start jotting down all the things we want to accomplish in the new year. I, personally, like to keep things simple — like just being happy. When we think about what makes us happy, our diet isn’t usually at the top of the list (unless your favorite fast-food joint brings joy to mind). What we eat can play a role in how we feel. Studies linking nutrition and mental well-being have emerged in the past decade, and certain foods are associated with increased serotonin in our brains. Serotonin, also known as the “happy hormone,” is a chemical that plays an important role in regulating our mood. Low serotonin levels can cause mood instability. 1. Dark chocolate You know the typical scene in movies where a girl sits on her couch in sweats, eating a tub of chocolate ice cream. Turns out Hollywood was on to something. A systematic review found that dark chocolate can positively affect one’s mood. There are three main components found in chocolate that are associated with the feeling of happiness: tryptophan, theobromine and phenylethylalanine. Tryptophan is an amino acid the brain uses to produce serotonin. Theobromine is a weak stimulant that can improve your mood. Meanwhile, phenylethylalanine is another amino acid used by the body to produce dopamine, which acts as an antidepressant. 2. Bananas If there were ever such a thing as “good mood food,” bananas are probably it, but maybe not in the way you think they are. Although bananas contain serotonin, it is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier (think of the BBB as a wall that filters what can and cannot enter our bloodstream and make its way to our brains). Bananas can play a crucial role in regulating your mood in a more indirect way. Your body needs vitamin B6 to create serotonin, and bananas are especially rich in this nutrient. A single medium-size banana contains up to 0.4 mg of vitamin B6, which accounts for roughly 25% of the daily recommended intake. Instead of doctors writing a prescription for antidepressants, should they just send you to the grocery store to load up on dark chocolate and bananas? What are the foods you should stay away from? |
