With vitamins, minerals and amino acids proven to help improve serotonin levels, these foods are the ones to reach for when feeling anxious, tired or in need of a boost.
Banana pancakes with butterscotch sauce will put a smile on anyone’s face!
Bananas
Bananas contain trytophan, an amino acid that helps to raise serotonin levels, and are packed full of potassium, which makes them a great choice for anyone feeling stressed or tired.
Buckwheat
A ‘smart carb’ that isn’t actually a grain at all, buckwheat is closely related to the rhubarb plant and is gluten free. It’s rich in B vitamins, vital for regulating energy levels, as well as calcium and magnesium, which aid relaxation and ease tired and achy muscles.
Millet
Like bananas, millet (a whole grain) is high in trytophan and so boosts serotonin levels. If consumed before bed, it can also aid in a deeper and better sleep, and, as it is rich in silicon, it’s great for healthy skin, hair, teeth, eyes and nails.
Oats
Oats contain mood-boosting mineral selenium, but their real value lies in their low-glycemic index (GI). This means that they release energy slowly, maintaining steady blood sugar levels, and leveling your mood.
Oysters
Oysters are a mood-booster in more ways than one. They’re high in zinc, which is a mineral essential for energy production and brain health; all it takes is three oysters to get more than 100 per cent of your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of zinc.
Molasses
With five times more calcium than milk, more iron than eggs and heaps of potassium, molasses is a great mood-booster. While it is high in sugar, replacing regular cane sugar with a spoonful of molasses when baking is a tasty, and effective, substitute.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
