These 26 Foods Will Help To Boost Your Mood

Here’s the truth: what you eat has a direct influence on your mood. When I was a fad dieter, I ate too many ‘skinny’ foods and drank too much caffeine, which caused my moods to spike and drop dramatically. Of course, this leads you through a vicious cycle and ultimately, your health suffers as a result.

From both personal and clinical experience, I’ve seen the impact that our diet can have on our mood. Over the last few years, scientists have been documenting the importance of gut health, finding that it plays a part in everything from sleep to mood, mental health and even stress levels. The gut is now being referred to as the body’s second brain, with researchers finding that the state of our gut plays a key role in chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and even depression and anxiety.

This is why I’m so passionate about nutrition and helping people to eat a balanced, wholefood diet. To optimise your good gut bacteria, you need to include a variety of nourishing foods in your diet. Focus on the essential macronutrients by eating good-quality protein, complex carbohydrates, plenty of fibre and omega-3 fatty acids. These foods are satiating and help to balance blood sugar levels, which promotes stable moods throughout the day.

Here are my 26 favourite feel-good foods that form the basis of my diet and have helped me establish equilibrium throughout my healing journey.

My favourite feel-good foods:

1. Avocado
2. Coconut oil
3. Olive oil
4. Nuts, seeds
5. Homemade granola
6. Organic eggs
7. Brown rice
8. Wholesome bread (signature JSHealth loaf, rye seeded or Ezekiel)
9. Nut butters
10. Tahini
11. Hummus
12. Fruit
13. Good-quality proteins
14. Coconut milk
15. Coconut cream
16. Coconut yoghurt
17. Greek yoghurt (full fat)
18. Organic butter
19. Oats
20. Oily fish
21. Chia seeds
22. Flaxseed
23. Dark or raw chocolate
24. Raw treats
25. Healthy acai bowls
26. Healthy muesli bars

 

From gut health to digestion, stress reduction and sleep, I have more than 50 dedicated health guides in the JSHealth App. You can download the app on iTunes for less than $3 a week and we also offer a free 7-day trial.