«Mood food»: what is its secret

In the twenty-first century, the demand for both healthy foods and psychological help continues to grow. The more emotional problems humanity has, the more popular food that can improve mood and well-being becomes. How does it work and how can we please not only taste buds, but also the soul?

At the intersection of these two requests, the mood food industry arose (“food for the mood”). We are talking about functional products enriched with elements that help fight the symptoms of fatigue, depression and other unpleasant conditions.

What is food for joy

Hottest mood food destinations:

  • anti-energetics with a calming effect;
  • sleeping pills;
  • anti-anxiety;
  • anti-stress.

Studies show that there are categories of foods that help boost the good bacteria in our gut. Thanks to them, bacteria begin to multiply more actively and produce more compounds that affect the brain.

This category includes foods fortified with probiotics (contain cultures of beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics (contain fibers that bacteria are especially willing to eat).

But at the same time, the idea of ​​mood food is much broader than enriching the menu with individual healthy ingredients. For example, in Oxford there is a startup that will “prescribe” food for you by evaluating your facial expressions. For some, the system prescribes walnuts to cheer up. For some, chocolate to quell anxiety. This story supports the trend towards personalized nutrition.

Marketing and tradition

And the theme of mood food is a working marketing ploy. Pizzerias offer «mood-boosting» pizzas, while restaurants serve mood juice and mood bakes based on local, plant-based, seasonal produce.

Chefs say that «honest» local food will make you feel better and do wonders for your body. And scientists confirm that they are right.

In Australia, Spain, Japan, Great Britain and other parts of the world, studies were carried out with the participation of large groups of people. The results showed that simple local food helps maintain brain health and protects against mood-related problems (anxiety, depression, and others). But what about those who live in a big city?

In the conditions of the metropolis, a real mood food for us will be seasonal vegetables characteristic of our area, whole grain cereals and legumes, fermented foods, fruits, good oils and nuts, fish, moderate amounts of meat and dairy products. This is the diet recommended by WHO and other health organizations around the world.

In different countries, it may vary depending on traditions and preferences, but the basis is always the same: whole, local, seasonal products. That is, the usual food that our grandmothers and great-grandmothers put on the table when depression and anxiety had not yet acquired the scale of a global epidemic. And this means that tasty and healthy dishes for a positive mood are always available to us.

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