Scientists Have Figured Out The Seven Foods That Make People Happy
The seven foods that make people happy are dark chocolate, berries, bananas, coconut, avocado, coffee, and fermented foods.
When consuming food, we know that some vitamins and nutrients help our immune system, digestion, skin, eyes, and hair, but what about our mental health? Unsurprisingly, certain foods aid in stabilizing mood and diminishing anxiety and depression symptoms. Some of the most optimal foods that make people happy are delicious fruits, fermented vegetables, avocado, and, of course, chocolate.
Fruits play a significant part in a balanced diet, but they can also aid in preserving your mood. According to CNET.com, Bananas and coconuts are two of the top fruits with substantial mental-improvement power, both packed with vitamins that aid in healthy lifestyles. Bananas contain vitamin B6s that are crucial for serotonin production, while coconuts contain medium chain triglycerides that studies have found can reduce anxiety levels.
Berries are also critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, with unbeatable healing properties that help sustain happiness. Blueberries, specifically, are rich in antioxidants and anticarcinogens, providing your immune system with incredible defenses against illness and disease. Antioxidants have also been studied in a mental health context, revealing that berries rich in these flavonoids can help lower depression symptoms.
Though fruit may be an obvious choice for foods that make people happy, chocolate may be a more straightforward guess. The mouthwatering dessert is enjoyed worldwide, known for its production style, notes, and tannins range. Consuming dark chocolate can do more than satisfy your tastebuds due to a combination of naturally occurring chemicals.
For those who are fans of bitter, complex dark chocolate, it’s excellent news that ingesting this sweet treat is listed as one of the foods that make people happy. Rich dark chocolate contains three components that can improve someone’s mood: tryptophan, theobromine, and phenylethylamine.
Tryptophan, which is also located in turkey, whole milk, nuts, and seeds, is a chemical stimulant that is known to help moodiness and irritability, while phenylethylamine aids the body in dopamine production.
Coffee is another worldwide favorite for mood stimulation. With one billion coffee drinkers worldwide, it’s probably the most common ingestible for improving mood and fighting grumpiness. A study conducted in 2016 found that drinking coffee, as well as consuming decaf coffee, can help reduce general depression symptoms.
Foods that make people happy often contain caffeine, a powerful chemical that works wonders in the brain. Caffeine from coffee or tea can block receptors in the brain that usually process fatigue or irritability, which helps improve mood throughout the day. Coffee, though, is a temporary stimulant and may inconsistently relieve someone’s depressive symptoms.
Fermented foods are often regarded as gut-healing essentials, but they can also significantly improve happiness. Foods like kimchi, yogurt, sauerkraut, and kefir contain powerful probiotics that boost the gastrointestinal system, which is linked to the nervous system and the brain. In fact, 90% of serotonin is created in the gut, so enhancing one’s gut health promotes better mood and general well-being.
Though fruits and vegetables are imperative for healthy lifestyles, foods do affect one’s mood and brain functions. Foods that make people happy, like fruits, coffee, and chocolate, contain natural vitamins and chemicals to mitigate depression and anxiety.
