What is your current activity level?
🧍‍♂️Sedentary
🚶 Moderately active
🏃 Very active
This will help us personalize your experience

Good Mood Food | 9 Foods that Boost Your Mood

Published on
Updated on
Good Mood Food | 9 Foods that Boost Your Mood

Table of Contents

Written By:
Adrien
Paczosa
RD
LD
CEDRD-S

Key Takeaways

Foods That Boost Your Mood and Help with Depression

Life is different now, we spend more (or most) of our time in our homes and our moods are bound to be affected by this change in lifestyle. Here are suggestions and ideas of using foods that may boost your mood!

While most of us are experiencing some form of quarantine, many turn to food for comfort. When you feel down, stressed, or bored, do you turn to food to help lift your spirits? There is research that shows a relationship between nutrition and moods.

While people turn to easy choices to help boost their mood when feeling depressed, the basics for good mood begins with implementing some basic nutrition strategies.  Let’s look at foods that boost your mood and don’t create that crash.

Here are 9 foods that can help boost your mood:

  • Fatty Fish –Salmon and albacore tuna are two foods rich in Omega-3s and are shown to lower levels of depression.
  • Dark Chocolate – Yum! Chocolate is rich in many mood boosting ingredients. It releases a plethora of feel good compounds linked to improving your mood.
  • Berries – these fruits are linked to lower rates of depression and are rich in disease fighting nutrients. Fresh or frozen, berries may raise your mood
  • Fermented Foods – Yogurt, kimchi, Kombucha, kefir and sauerkraut improve gut health. A healthy gut helps produce serotonin, which is a mood booster.
  • Oats – Oats are an excellent source of fiber, which slow your digestion of carbs, allowing a gradual release of sugar into the bloodstream, helping to avoid the ups and downs of mood changes. They are also high in iron.
  • Bananas –They are a great source of natural sugar, vitamin B6 and prebiotic fiber, which all work together to keep blood sugar levels and moods stable.
  • Nuts and Seeds – Are high in protein, fiber and healthy fat, containing amino acids responsible for producing mood boosting serotonin. They also support brain function.
  • Coffee – The caffeine and chlorogenic acid in coffee may just make you happier. Coffee increases the release of dopamine, known to boost your mood.
  • Beans and Lentils – Are a source of B vitamins, which help improve mood by increasing levels of key neurotransmitters. High in folate which helps moods

If your mood is not at the place where you want it, try to incorporate some of the foods that boost your mood and help support your mind when feeling depressed.

For more information, on how to incorporate these foods to boost your mood schedule an appointment with one of our registered dietitians. We would love to help you build a mood-boosting meal plan to help you feel better emotionally and physically.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

View all references
Nourish has strict sourcing policies and prioritizes primary sources, including medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about our medical review process and editorial guidelines.

See a Registered Dietitian with Nourish

  • Covered by insurance
  • Virtual sessions
  • Personalized care
Schedule an appointment

Frequently asked questions

No items found.

Book an appointment with a {category} dietitian

Covered by insurance.

Book an appointment with an online dietitian

Covered by insurance.

Mental Health
Text Link
Intuitive Eating
Text Link
Hyperthyroidism
Text Link
Hypothyroidism
Text Link
Fertility
Text Link
Endometriosis
Text Link
Menopause
Text Link
Hormonal Health
Text Link
Weight Stabilization
Text Link
Bariatric Surgery
Text Link
Weight Gain
Text Link
Weight Loss
Text Link
High Cholesterol
Text Link
High Blood Pressure
Text Link
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED)
Text Link
Type 2 Diabetes
Text Link
Type 1 Diabetes
Text Link
Gestational Diabetes
Text Link
Prediabetes
Text Link
Multiple Sclerosis
Text Link
Celiac Disease
Text Link
Ulcerative Colitis
Text Link
GERD / Acid Reflux
Text Link
Crohn’s Disease
Text Link
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Text Link
Binge Eating
Text Link
Bulimia
Text Link
Anorexia
Text Link
Food Allergies
Text Link
Sports and Performance Nutrition
Text Link
Eating Disorder
Text Link
Autoimmune Disease
Text Link
Thyroid Disorders
Text Link
Diabetes
Text Link
Cancer
Text Link
Healthy Aging
Text Link
Women's Health
Text Link
Weight Concerns
Text Link
Vegan/Vegetarian
Text Link
Pre or Postnatal Nutrition
Text Link
Pediatric Nutrition
Text Link
Liver Disease
Text Link
Kidney Disease
Text Link
Heart Health
Text Link
Gut Health
Text Link
General Health
Text Link
Emotional Eating
Text Link

Find a

dietitian covered by insurance

No items found.
Mental Health
Intuitive Eating
Hyperthyroidism