Foods to Boost Your Moods!
Scientists study some pretty cool stuff. Seriously — they’ve even figured out what foods have the power to make you feel happier when you eat ’em. Read on to find out what packs the biggest mood-boosting punch — along with yummy recipes to work more of them into your routine.
The Food: WalnutsWhether homework overload or fights with your mom have been plucking your nerves, walnuts are your new BFF. When people snack on a few of these nuts each day, their bods actually get better at coping with stress.The Fix: Sprinkle chopped walnuts on top of your cereal in the a.m., or use them to add crunch to ice cream or fro-yo.
The Food: Bell PeppersThese veggies are packed with vitamin C, which is shown to give a serious pick-me-up. Make sure to stick with the red and yellow ones, though — green peppers don’t come with as much of the feel-good nutrient.The Fix: Cut peppers into strips and dip them in your favorite hummus or yogurt dip.
The Food: StrawberriesThese fruity kisses just happen to be loaded with a little something called folate, which helps your bod produce more of the blues-beating hormone serotonin.The Fix: Treat yourself to a yummy smoothie by blending frozen strawberries with milk and a banana.
The Food: ToastOne whiff of this bad boy gets you feeling zen — pronto. According to a recent study, the scent of toast makes people feel happy instantly!The Fix: Skip dessert tonight. Instead, have a slice of toast with a chocolate-hazelnut spread.
The Food: SalmonSalmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acid, a type of fat that’s actually good for you. Why? It boosts brain power and fights off depression.The Fix: Make a salmon-salad wrap by mixing a can of drained salmon with some low-fat mayo and a bit of chopped celery, then roll it up in a flour tortilla.
The Food: WaterOK, so H2O isn’t technically a food — but it can help perk up your day! Since dehydration causes fatigue and all-around crankiness, loading up on the clear liquid helps you avoid a case of the blahs.The Fix: Throw a few fresh mint leaves in a glass of ice water and add a couple of squirts of lime juice for something you’ll love sipping all day long.
The Food: ChocolateIt’s true — the sweet stuff really can reduce stress! The catch: It’s gotta be dark chocolate. Also, you probably want to stick to 1 ounce a day so you don’t overload on sugar.The Fix: Melt down a bar in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Then
dip pretzels, marshmallows — whatever! — and let them sit on wax paper until
hardened.
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