5 Best Snacks to Boost Your Mood

By Nikki Jong, Caring.com

Change your diet, change your mood? Science says the answer is yes. Food isn’t just fuel for the body; it feeds the mind and changes our moods. Food scientists are still exploring the big picture regarding food and mood, but it’s clear that certain foods have a feel-good factor. Try these five mood-boosting snacks.

Bananas
Bananas offer serious mood-lifting power, with their combination of vitamins B6, A, and C; fiber; tryptophan; potassium; phosphorous; iron; protein; and healthy carbohydrates.

When you eat a banana, you’ll get a quick boost from the fructose as well as sustaining energy from the fiber, which helps prevent a blood sugar spike and ensuing drop in energy and mood. Carbohydrates aid in the absorption of tryptophan in the brain, and vitamin B6 helps convert the tryptophan into mood-lifting serotonin. Bananas are also a great source of potassium. While potassium isn’t directly related to mood, it’s needed to regulate fluid levels and keep muscles working properly, which is important for feeling energized, a key factor for a sunny outlook. And finally, bananas also offer iron, which is crucial to producing energy and fighting fatigue.

Get even happier: Bananas are among the best when it comes to mixing and matching mood-boosting snacks. For a sunny smoothie, blend a banana with one handful of spinach, a tablespoon of ground flaxseed, and half a cup of apple juice. Spinach is one of the richest food sources of folate (vitamin B9) you can find, and flaxseed is full of omega-3s. When combined, these nutrients help maintain stable levels of brain serotonin and may help reduce your risk of depression.

For a sweet treat, try a frozen dark chocolate-covered banana, which you’ll find in the freezer section of many natural foods stores. Or melt your own dark chocolate at home to dip banana slices in for a satisfying, mood-lifting fondue.

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Super Snacks: 5 Best Snacks for Mood originally appeared on Caring.com.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Rafael R.

1:54AM PST on Jan 31, 2012

Nice! I already knew bananas were good for mood!

send a green star

Megan B.

11:07AM PST on Jan 30, 2012

Thanks for sharing!

Miranda L.

12:13PM PST on Jan 29, 2012

If you're concerned about snack calories, by all means stick to the suggested snack without following the instructions for being even happier!

Diana N.

12:47AM PST on Jan 29, 2012

Wow, I didn't know that magnesium also helps with the mood! Only knew that it's essential for muscles & nerves. I often take magnesium supplements because I'm very prone to magnesium deficiency, I'll get these muscle twitches then. Once a tiny muscle on my forearm kept twitching 3 days! I went to the doctor & he told me it's magnesium deficiency & to take a supplement, & that sure helped!

jan l.

3:08PM PST on Jan 28, 2012

Thanks! i now have a fabulous reason for toting bananas: my 'alibi' was that they're quick, convenience, and portable treat and energy booster! i can now smile when i unzip the delicious treat, knowing that it's actually boosting my mood as well! Thanks so much! Please keep feeding us these tidbits of info ~ we do appreciate them so very much!

Dan M.

8:43AM PST on Jan 28, 2012

Good to know

Lindsay K.

8:25AM PST on Jan 28, 2012

Thanks for this - I'm off to find some chocolate now!

sharon b.

10:14PM PST on Jan 27, 2012

thanks

Dany S.

10:05PM PST on Jan 27, 2012

hmm yummy article ! thanks