Nature has solutions to a lot of our problems and believe it or not, bad moods are one of them. You can make slight but noticeable positive changes in your mood by putting the right foods on your plate. Many of the foods here contain compounds that stimulate the production of mood enhancing chemicals in the brain and this is precisely how they better our moods.

Of course, any serious condition of depression or mental illness can not be combatted with a change in diet alone. Depression, and other mental illnesses, are devastating and require a multi-prong attack to be treated adequately. One reason for the ineffective treatment of mental illness is the lack of seriousness with which it is treated. Fortunately, that is changing, and great headway is being made in the world of psychiatry.

To get back to the matter at hand, you can try out some of the foods mentioned in this article for a better mood in general. You’re not going to feel like you’re on the top of the world but we know how small betterments in mood can increase productivity and general well being.

Here is a list of mood enhancing foods that you ought to try:

1. Asparagus

Asparagus is a fascinatingly healthy vegetable. Remember how we talked about the foods on this list stimulating the right chemicals in your brain, which leads to positive moods? Asparagus is rich in a chemical called tryptophan, which, when consumed, in turn has the brain produce serotonin, which is a mood enhancing chemical. It is also rich in something called a folate, a substance which when in low quantities has a known correlation to depression.

2. Honey

Honey is a naturally sweet substance with a multitude of benefits. While the link between honey and less frequents bouts of depression aren’t linked with any conclusive evidence, many people believe that the inflammation reducing tendencies of honey has an indirect link to moods.

It doesn’t hurt to give it a shot, since honey has many other benefits.

3. Chocolate

Yes, you’re reading correctly, chocolate has mood enhancing properties. Dark chocolate in particular is effective in reducing the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It is also well known as an aphrodisiac, so perhaps it’s more clear now as to the link between chocolate and good moods.

But chocolate’s chocolate, so don’t start gorging on them in a bid to make yourself more cheery.

4. Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt contains a great deal of protein, and protein intake is related to general mood. It has been found to increase the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, both of which are critical in deciding what kind of mood you’re going to be in. Greek yogurt is a better recommendation than ordinary yogurt because it contains much more protein.

5. Bananas

Cheap, delicious and available almost everywhere, bananas are the quickest way to get happy! They are also rich in the substance tryptophan which helps get the brain into its happy state. Bananas are also great sources of energy and vitamins and minerals, and energy has been linked to positive moods

A banana a day is very advisable and in time you might just notice a change in you demeanour, if not a spring in your step.

These foods have a whole host of other benefits as well, so there’s plenty of reason to give them a bite. Remember, you’re not going to begin feeling euphoria on the first bite. As is the case with all foods and all physiological changes, it’ll be some time before you begin to feel the effects of these foods.

More importantly, if you feel as if you suffer from something more sinister than an ordinary episode of sadness, then you must consult an expert. Seek support from family or friends and schedule an appointment. The condition of the ‘stiff-upper-lip’ has done more to damage the individual mentally than anything else.