What you eat makes all the difference in the world! Never ask for proof the next time someone says your food influences your mood. We commonly hear terms like sugar high, caffeine rush, hangover, etc, which clearly indicate how impactful the foods you consume are. Most of your mood related symptoms are triggered from varying levels of blood sugar in your body which control the level of ‘melatonin’ secreted in the blood as a responsive reaction. This is why you feel better immediately after the food is excreted out of your body. So if you think what you eat can only influence your body weight, think about the cravings you have for your favourite food which by itself is a brain triggered reaction and in turn influences your mood. The next time you feel bad or depressed or tired, try consuming the foods that we have listed below and see the difference it makes.

1. Coffee: Feeling dull and lifeless? This is the best time to grab that cup of caffeine and give your mind the required boost. Coffee basically short circuits a nerve chemical called ‘adenosine’ which blocks the energy-boosting brain chemicals and helps rejuvenate your happy hormones. Always watch your portion – never exceed 500 ml coffee a day.

2. Chocolate: It has been found that eating 50 grams of dark chocolate everyday for two weeks, reduces ‘cortisol’ secretion (stress hormone) because of the chemical reaction that happens between cortisol and the antioxidants present in chocolate. Isn’t this good news?

3. Fish:  Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in people suffering from anaemia. This is predominantly seen in youngsters and women of childbearing age. It is important to deal with iron deficiency by including a diet that contains lean meat, seafood and poultry. Vegetarian foods like spinach are also rich in iron but it is the animal protein called ‘hemethat the body is capable of absorbing more easily and quickly.

4. Honey: One good thing about honey is that it can be added to almost any dish and it will add that extra flavour to it. It is not only an excellent substitute for sugar but is also packed with a lot of useful compounds that help the body to eliminate free radicals, reduce inflammation and make you feel good.

5. Yogurt: Appropriate calcium levels in the body give a positive signal to the brain and push it further to secret feel-good hormones. An imbalance in calcium levels have resulted in anxiety, irritability and impaired memory. So the next time you feel irritated or just blah, grab a small cup of fresh, organic yogurt and you’re all set.

6. Fruits: These fruits are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way and at the same time pep your mood up. Most of the citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and grapes have proved to give an instant mood boost. Now you know why most of the room fragrances have these flavours.

References:
http://www.rodalesorganiclife. com/food/brain-food

http://www.prevention.com/heal th/food-and-mood-best-foods- make-you-feel-better