Are you under the impression that most healthy food don’t taste good? Well not only do healthy offerings taste great, they can also help to improve your mood.
Wait, what… Confused? You’re not alone.
The “health food” industry floods the market with stale, tasteless items – and still make a huge profit. How? Because they slap the package with some apparent health benefit. These companies have brilliantly marketed their cheaply-produced, tasteless garbage. And, well, we’ve just accepted the notion that healthy foods must taste like crap. The real kicker is that much of this “food” isn’t healthy. A win-win for the greedy health companies – not so much for us.
Here are 11 delicious foods that improve your mood by nourishing the body and mind:
The good news is that there are plenty of healthy foods that improve both our mood and health. Moreover, they’re relatively cheap, taste good, and boost our overall health.
1. Artichokes
Artichokes are one of the most versatile and delicious foods. It’s packed with nutrients and offers some fantastic health benefits.
One serving of artichokes provides more antioxidants than any other food – some of which are on this list! Artichokes are also rich in fiber, phytonutrients, folic acid, and potassium.
Artichokes elevate cognitive function by allowing more oxygen to reach the brain. They also contain vitamin K and phosphorous – two nutrients essential for slowing cognitive decline.
2. Asparagus Can Improve Your Mood
Asparagus is loaded with vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, as well as calcium, copper, fiber, folate, iron, and protein.
K, B6, iron, copper, and protein contribute to the vegetable’s brain benefits.
3. Bananas
Bananas are rich in vitamins B6 and C. They also contain manganese, potassium, dietary fiber, magnesium, folate, and others.
Eating bananas regularly may help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of developing asthma and cancer.
4. Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is absolutely delicious – and one of the healthiest foods. They are loaded with antioxidants to fight against environmental toxins. Cancer researchers believe that the flavonoids in dark chocolate may reduce cancer risk.
5. Eggs
Eggs are an excellent source of inexpensive, high-quality protein. Half of an egg’s protein is in the egg’s white, which is higher in vitamin B6 than the yolk.
Eggs also contain vitamins B6 and B12, vital to cognitive function. Simply put, when it comes to health cost/benefit, eggs are about as good as it gets.
6. Kiwi
Kiwi is delicious and provides numerous health benefits, from inducing sleep to skin health and protection.
The kiwi fruit is higher in vitamin C than any food (sorry, oranges and lemons!) They also have potent antioxidant properties and help aid digestion, as green fruit is abundant in dietary fiber.
7. Improve Your Mood by Snacking on Nuts
Nuts are loaded with protein and contain omega-3 fatty acids. Protein and omega-3’s are essential to for heart and brain health.
They also contain healthy unsaturated fats, fiber, vitamin E, and L-arginine – a vital building block of protein.
8. Pomegranates
Pomegranates are known for their jewel-like seeds (arils) that have been used for medicinal purposed of millennia. In fact, these fruits are flush with antioxidants and vitamins.
Pomegranates fight inflammation, reduce cancer risk, aid digestion, and reduce the risk of heart disease.
9. Salmon
Everyone knows that salmon is one of the best omega-3 fatty foods, but this freshwater fish has some other excellent health benefits.
Salmon is rich in protein and B vitamins. It is also loaded with selenium, a mineral that acts as an antioxidant, boosts immunity, increases blood flow, regulates thyroid function, reduces asthma symptoms, and may help boost fertility.
10. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are scrumptious, but most people overlook the many health benefits.
These creamy orange tubers are rich in vitamins A, B1, B6, and C. Additionally, they are a good source of copper, dietary fiber, manganese, niacin, pantothenic acid, phosphorous, and potassium.
Add a bit of butter or margarine. We won’t tell anyone.
11. Yogurt Is A Healthy Food to Improve Your Mood
Yogurt is rich in protein (about 9 grams per 6-ounce serving), vitamins B2 and B12, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Additionally, yogurt is rich in probiotics, healthy bacteria, and yeast. These properties help maintain optimal gut health and correct any microbial imbalance within the gut.
Community
