According to Harvard Health, food directly affects our mood. Which makes total sense when you think of this analogy; your brain is like a car, it needs premium ‘fuel’ to function optimally. Your brain never really switches off. It’s home to your thoughts and movements, your breathing and heartbeat, your feelings and senses — it works bloody hard 24/7, even when you’re asleep. This means our brain requires a constant supply of fuel. And that “fuel” comes from the foods we eat. Ultimately, it’s down to what’s in that food that is going to make a difference to how we feel. 

This explains why reaching for highly processed snacks and greasy takeout’s, is not always the best way to tackle our fleeting emotions, eventually making us feel worse. There is also a direct correlation between diets high in refined sugars and impaired brain function, not to mention sugar’s ability to cause mood swings.  

Your brain functions best when it’s nourished, allowing you to thrive. It is proven that consuming high-quality foods containing a complex of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, protects the brain from oxidative stress — the “waste” (free radicals) produced when the body uses oxygen, which can damage cells. 

Of course, we aren’t saying not to enjoy your favourite chocolate bar, packet of crisps or a big slice of cake on your birthday. Eating foods for the soul is also a way to improve your mental attitude and wellbeing. Restriction will never cause happiness and is not a sustainable approach to your relationship with food. Balance, the 80/20 rule, cheat days, whatever you want to call it, is one of the kindest ways we can treat our mind, body and health – both physically and mentally.  

Food is also about memories; about saying yes to social occasions and about living your life to the fullest. Why should you let certain food groups scare, control or affect your happiness?  

So, here is our take on the foods that can boost your mood and leave you feeling good from the inside out!