5 Amazing Foods That Have Been Linked to Happiness

Every day, the food you consume plays a vital role in your overall health. However, there are some foods that can actually make you happier. By making conscious decisions about you eat, you’re not only improving your health, but improving your mood, too. Foods with specific high-quality nutrients and vitamins fuel your energy and performance.

“When it comes to digesting foods that make you happy—like chocolate—there has to be a precarious balance,” says Juban Cowen Dental. “Too much or too little of many foods we love can actually be harmful. Regular visits to your dentist and doctor ensure you aren’t impacting your teeth or overall health during your mission to eat happy foods.”

Our brain naturally produces a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which helps soothe and calm us. Fortunately, there are several foods that increase the production of this neurotransmitter. Here are five amazing foods that have been linked to happiness:

Chocolate

Chocolate has a long and proven history with happiness. Several studies have proven that chocolate has positive effects on your mood—and even a plethora of health benefits. Ever felt happier when you let a piece of green tea chocolate or dark, rich chocolate melt in your mouth? There’s a reason for that. Chocolate creates feelings of pleasure because it stimulates the production of endorphins. It also contains a natural antidepressant called serotonin, which can improve a person’s mood.

Almonds

Almonds are a healthy fat that contain plenty of tyrosine, a compound that prevents a decline in cognitive function that happens as a result of stress. They’re also a great source of antioxidants, most of which are concentrated in the brown, flaky layer of skin. These antioxidants that protect the body against oxidative stress, which can even damage the molecules in your cells and contribute to aging and diseases like cancer. One clinical trial found that when a group of male smokers ate three ounces of almonds per day, they were able to reduce oxidative stress biomarkers by 23–34% over a four-week period. Lastly, they’re a great source of Vitamin E: just once ounce of almonds provides 37% of your recommended daily intake.

Berries

Berries are filled to the brim with flavonoids. Flavonoids have been linked to improving memory, regulating your mood, and reducing inflammation. They are particularly powerful for the brain. Raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are all filled with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is known for helping control cortisol, a hormone that’s released in your body during times of stress.

Kale

Kale may seem like a bland, ordinary food, but the truth is, not only is it versatile, but has many health benefits as well. These dark, leafy greens have plenty of omega-3 fatty acids and are rich in magnesium. Because of this, they help boost cognitive performance and mental health.

“Kale tops the charts of nutrient density, possesses incredible culinary flexibility, and is easy to grow almost anywhere,” says Drew Ramsey, author of 50 Shades of Kale. “My ultimate measure of a food is its power to support brain health, and it is clear that more kale in your diet means a happier, healthier, sexier you—all the basic signs that your brain is running well.”

Salmon

Salmon is one of the strongest anti-inflammatory foods. So why is this important? Because new research has found that inflammation in the body can increase the chances of depressive disorders. According to the research, “Subjects with major depressive disorder have increased levels of a variety of inflammatory markers compared with those subjects who are not depressed.”

It’s because of this that fish like salmon are such a huge part of the Mediterranean diet, which has been proven to be one of the most effective diets in terms of curbing depression. In one study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, people who ate more fish were 17% less likely to be depressed than those that didn’t.