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Home » Diets that Work » Foods to boost your mood, now that you really need it – CNN

Consuming that extra scoop of ice cream or another handful of chips or cookies, however, can cause feelings of guilt -- and even more stress -- along with fatigue and irritability from sugar highs and lows.

Yet the opposite is also true: Consuming healthy mood-boosting foods can deliver important brain nutrients while positively impacting your well-being.

Below are some nutritious and delicious foods that can improve your frame of mind while helping you avoid the #quarantine15 and other related health issues.

"Those who consume ample amounts of the omega-3 fat DHA are less prone to depression, aggressiveness and hostility," according to registered dietitian Elizabeth Somer, author of "Food and Mood" and medical advisory board member for Persona Nutrition.

The healthy fat "helps form healthy membranes that easily transport nutrients into brain cells, lowers inflammation and raises serotonin levels," Somer added. Serotonin is one of the key neurotransmitters influencing our mood, so incorporating plenty of DHA in your diet can help you maintain a balanced outlook.

Somer recommends aiming for at least two servings of fatty fish per week, such as salmon, herring, mackerel or sardines, or looking for foods fortified with the omega-3 DHA. For a tasty way to enjoy omega-3 fats, check out my simple salmon recipe below.

Green veggies: spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts

These green veggies are a source of folate, a B vitamin that's essential for the body's production of serotonin, according to Somer.

In addition to increasing the risk for depression, poor intake of folate is also linked to fatigue and poor memory.

Somer recommends consuming at least 400 micrograms of folate per day, an amount found in 1 cups of sauted spinach. Beans, peas, lentils, avocado and strawberries are other good sources of folate.

Probiotics: yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi

One of the easiest ways to enjoy a daily dose of probotics is to consume a cup of low-fat yogurt with fresh fruit or a smoothie with yogurt as a snack.

Whole grains: oats, brown rice, whole wheat bread

Whole grains are rich in B vitamins that are important for energy and optimal brain health. Thanks to their fiber content, whole grains also help to keep blood sugar from spiking and crashing, which can help you avoid mood swings.

"If you're eating bread, reach for the whole wheat over the white, since it also stabilizes blood sugar levels," Somer said. "Refined grains found in white bread can send you on a blood sugar roller coaster, leaving you jittery, grumpy and hungry."

Carbohydrates including whole grains also boost levels of serotonin, the "feel-good brain chemical," according to Somer. Adding some protein, like chicken, legumes, fish or nut butter with whole grains can help, too, as protein triggers the release of norepinephrine, a brain chemical that provides an energy and mood lift.

A whole grain bagel with peanut butter, for example, can make for a nutritious mini-meal. Somer also likes whole grain crackers or bread sticks with low-fat cheese.

Vitamin D: Egg yolks, fatty fish; fortified milks

Our bodies synthesize vitamin D from the sun's ultraviolet light, so most of us can meet at least some of our D needs during sunnier months. Certain factors including darker skin and air pollution, however, can reduce the ability of the sun to produce vitamin D in human skin, according to Dr. Michael Holick, an expert on Vitamin D research from Boston University.

So in the wintertime, it's especially important to seek out vitamin D-rich foods, like fatty fish, eggs and fortified foods and beverages, or vitamin D supplements.

Yes, dark chocolate (in moderation)

To keep weight in check, limit portions to 1 ounce of dark chocolate daily, or about 150 calories.

Coffee and tea

"When we consume caffeine, it has positive effects on mood and alertness, and people like these beneficial effects," said Mary M. Sweeney, an instructor who researches caffeine's effects on individuals in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Just keep in mind that people vary in their tolerance to caffeine. "Many people consume caffeine without negative consequences, but for some individuals, either regularly consuming too much caffeine or consuming too much at once can cause distress," Sweeney said.

For a healthy boost, check out my matcha (green tea) latte below.

Mood-boosting recipes

Total time: 45 minutes

Nonstick cooking spray

1 pound green beans, trimmed

2 shallots, sliced

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

12 teaspoon kosher salt

12 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 6-ounce wild salmon fillets

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons honey

Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the green beans, and boil for 3--5 minutes or until bright green and slightly tender. Drain and run under cold water until cool.

Drain well; toss with the shallots, oil, salt, and 14 teaspoon of the pepper; and place on one half of the baking sheet. Place the salmon fillets, skin side down, on the other half of the baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix the mustard and honey and spread evenly on the salmon fillets.

Season with the remaining 14 teaspoon pepper and roast in the oven until the salmon is just cooked through and the beans are lightly browned, 12--14 minutes.

Yield: 4 servings (6 ounces salmon and 4 ounces green beans each)

Total time: 10 minutes

2 cups 1% milk fat vitamin D-fortified milk

1 12 teaspoons matcha powder

1 tablespoon hot water (boiling is ideal)

1 12 tablespoons maple syrup

In a blender, blend milk for about 30 seconds, until frothy. In a small bowl, dissolve matcha powder in hot water. Add milk, dissolved matcha, and maple syrup to a small pot and heat over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until hot but NOT boiling. The mixture should be very frothy but if it reaches boiling, the froth will start to disappear. Serve warm.

Yields: 2 servings

Lisa Drayer is a nutritionist, an author and a CNN health and nutrition contributor.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly described the milk blending time period in the matcha latte recipe.

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Foods to boost your mood, now that you really need it - CNN

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Home » Diets that Work » Foods to boost your mood, now that you really need it – CNN