Healthy mind in healthy body. Our diet significantly influences our mood, even though we do not design a diet specifically to achieve that psychological effect.

Therefore, the knowledge of how food influences our emotional side can be very useful, providing us with another way to take control of our lives.
Along the following lines we will get to know several foods that lift our spirits , and their characteristics.

Food and Emotions

Today’s society lives in a hurry, and this is reflected in our diet. We don’t have much time and we prepare very basic and fast food. In addition, in the evenings there is a tendency to prepare an unprocessed dinner or order food from home.

All this has a clear effect: we lack vitamins in our body , and this influences our mood.
Thus, knowing what we eat not only helps our body to function well; it also has repercussions on our psychological state, the way we think, feel and value what happens to us.

Foods that lift our spirits

With the help of several reference studies, Clínicas Origen has elaborated a list of 5 foods that lift your spirits. Thanks to these foods our brain behaves more agilely, we feel more or less creative, relaxed and even happy.

These foods stand out for helping to lift people’s spirits, thanks to the properties they contain.

1. Dried fruit

Almonds, cashews, nuts, peanuts… all of them are a source of magnesium. Magnesium helps regulate nutrients in the body and improves tooth and bone health. But most importantly, magnesium helps to produce serotonin , known as the happiness hormone.

Another strong point of nuts is that they contain vitamin E which stimulates the neurons that keep us awake and alert. They’re great for a study phase.

However, it is advisable not to abuse this type of food, as it is rich in fat, which, although necessary for our organism, in excess wears down our well-being.

2. Dark chocolate

Chocolate in small doses and in moderation is an ally of happiness . That is why, in situations of stress, we always crave chocolate.

Dark chocolate in particular gives us well-being, as cocoa promotes the release of endorphins in the brain, offering pleasant sensations.

3. Red fruits

Red fruits are not only a very easy food to combine in desserts and snacks; they are also very beneficial for our mood and body. For example, the cherry has anti-inflammatory properties, ideal for curbing bad moods, stress and daily anxiety .

You can put them in yoghurts, in smoothies, as ingredients to make sauces, or even whole ones to complement meats.

4. Black tea

Black tea helps balance stress levels . It stimulates the central nervous system and relaxes the muscles. Be careful, though: it is not advisable for pregnant women, children and people who suffer from insomnia and nervousness.

5. Pasta

If we eat a high-carb, low-fat diet, we will achieve an increase in intellectual performance, since the brain is nourished by glucose. In addition, pasta also helps to reduce anxiety levels and symptoms associated with mood disorders such as depression, so it has beneficial effects on psychological well-being.

Of course, you have to be careful not to abuse this type of food, as it is present on many menus today and in several different forms, given its popularity.