Wellness

Boost Your Mood Naturally: Top Foods to Beat Stress

Boost Your Mood Naturally: Top Foods to Beat Stress

Feeling down? You’re not alone. Stress can take a toll on our mood, but what we eat can make a big difference. Discover how mood-boosting foods can help you de-stress and feel happier.

Understanding the Impact of Stress on Our Mood

Stress is a common experience, but it doesn’t have to control our mood. Years ago, when I became a stay-at-home mom, my husband would come home expecting a relaxing evening. Instead, he saw my tired, haggard face and said, “Just be happy.” I thought, “Yeah, right.” The truth was, I wasn’t happy. I felt alone and taken for granted. I blamed my circumstances, but the reality was that what I was eating was making me irritable, in pain, and resentful.

The Sugar Trap: A Temporary Fix with Long-Term Consequences

Before I knew better, sugar was my go-to solution for stress. It made me feel rewarded, taken care of, and loved. When things felt out of control, I reached for something sweet to feel comforted and escape. The rush of sugar gave me a temporary boost in energy, but it was empty calories that did nothing to fuel my body or brain. In fact, sugar placed more stress on my body’s metabolic systems and exacerbated feelings of overwhelm or stress.

The Gut-Brain Connection: How Food Affects Our Mood

Food affects all of us. Significant evidence shows that processed foods and refined sugars are major players in both our gut health and our mental health. “There can be a bit of a vicious cycle,” says David Ludwig, professor of pediatrics and nutrition at Harvard University. “When we feel stressed, we seek foods that are going to comfort us immediately, but oftentimes those foods lead to surges and crashes in hormones and blood sugar that increase our susceptibility to new stresses.”

Breaking Free from Sugar: A Journey to Better Health

My youngest daughter, Kelly, taught me about the effects of sugar and the crucial gut-brain connection. After Kelly was diagnosed with autism, her tummy troubles started. The most impactful shift that helped alleviate her symptoms was healing her gut through a nutrient-dense diet void of sugars, processed foods, grains, and dairy. Once I felt the empowering energy, clarity, and focus that came from eating only pure natural foods, I realized Kelly wasn’t the only one who could benefit.

Mood-Boosting Foods: Nature’s Way to Happiness

While mood-boosting foods may not be the first thing on your mind when you really want to dive into a bowl of ice cream or buttered popcorn, here’s a list of delicious alternatives:

Walnuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds, ground flax seeds (all high in Omega-3s)
Dark chocolate (choose naturally sweetened dark chocolate like Lily’s, Fine and Raw, or Pure 7 Chocolate)
Avocado
Wild salmon
Hummus (the tahini made from sesame seeds is what works here)
Dark leafy greens (these are grounding and full of healthy nutrients)
Grass-fed beef (high in iron, omega 3s, and higher levels of linoleic acid, which is called the “happy” fat because it combats stress hormones)
Coconut (contains medium-chain fats that keep your brain happy)
Pumpkin seeds (one of the best sources of tryptophan, which helps boost serotonin in the brain)