10 foods to make you feel good

Feeling a little blue or down in the dumps? You might be feeling this way because of the foods you’re eating. Your diet plays a fundamental role in your emotional health and eating the wrong types of foods can impact your mood and emotional wellbeing.

As tempting as it may be to reach for sugary high-fat treats when you’re feeling low, these foods will only end up making you feel worse. Eating a wholesome diet rich in a variety of nutritious natural foods will deliver important brain-nourishing nutrients that are needed to regulate your brain chemistry to support mood, brain function and emotional health.

Specific vitamins, minerals and amino acids are required for the production of your “feel-good” neurotransmitters, namely serotonin, dopamine and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). These neurotransmitters help enhance our mood and promote optimal brain function. They also assist with sleep and reducing anxiety levels. Deficiencies in these neurotransmitters are associated with the development of depression.

Here are 10 mood-boosting foods you should be eating as part of a well-balanced diet to best support your emotional wellbeing.