What Foods Can I Eat to Change My Mood?
Foods that can change your mood for the better include complex carbs, and foods that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and tryptophan. In this video, psychiatrist Julie Holland, MD, explains how and why these nutrients can help change your mood.
Transcript
So first of all, I recommend that my patients follow
an anti-inflammatory diet. And I also encourage them to take omega-3 fatty acids or to eat foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which
are certain fishes, primarily, and also flaxseed, hempseed. Omega-3 fatty acids can help to keep you a little bit less
reactive and more calm. And then, there's the tryptophan issue-- that you want higher levels of serotonin in your brain to be a little bit less sensitive and less moody.
So you want to eat foods that are rich in tryptophan. Although, the other thing is that complex carbs can really increase serotonin rates.
So there are certain comfort foods which you want to try to avoid, like bread and pasta and mashed
potatoes. But the truth is that those things really help you feel better, so you want to substitute in sort of healthier carbs for those carbs--
things like whole grains and ancient grains like quinoa and farro and millet. Those things are great for your mood.
mental health behavior
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