FOODS TO SUIT YOUR MOOD

1) Sadness

If you’re feeling in down, try upping your intake of oily fish to increase your brain health and mood. Oily fish is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help decrease depression, negativity and mood swings, but wild salmon and tuna are great sources of vitamin B12, which can help to regulate the mood.

2) Fear

A lot of people suffer from phobias, from the common (acrophobia=fear of heights) to (arachibutyrophobia). However, your diet may be to blame. Researchers suggest that a possible folate deficiency could be behind odd fears and anxiety, so try increasing your intake of folate, as well as increasing yor mood with Omega-3 – by snacking on healthy fats.

3) Anger

When you feel anger coming on, try reaching for some nuts or seeds to help calm you down. Researchers have shown that Omega-3 deficiency can be the culprit to aggressive behavior for adults and children with severe behavioral issues, while another study suggested that zinc can ease anger in most women. In order increase your intake of these nutrients, try grabbing some walnuts and flaxseeds, which contain zinc and Omega-3 fatty acids.

4) Love

Needing to increase your libido? Try eating foods rich in zinc to stimulate the libido and increase desire. Although oysters are a popular aphrodisiac due to their high amount of zinc, if you’re not a fan of oysters, try eating shellfish, pine nuts or pumpkin seeds instead.

5) Shyness

Everyone needs a confidence boost here and there, and you can get a helping hand from what your consuming to relieve shyness. Researchers found that foods containing tryptophan which, is an essential amino acid make people feel more confident. Tryptophan include meat (mainly chicken), fish such as salmon and tuna, and legumes as well.

6) Heartbreak

Most people reach for chocolate when faced with heartbreak, and this may not be such a bad thing. Chocolate contains a lot of chemicals to help the sadness of a break up, including magnesium (for relaxing), calming anandamide and mood-increasing phenylethylamine. Try eating dark chocolate, of course in moderation, for the best health benefits.

7) Anxiety

If anxiety is a crippling issue in your life, try replacing your coffee or green tea (which can make you jittery) with a mood calming herbal tea. The effects of chamomile tea are crazy powerful that they have been found to reduce symptoms of mild to moderate generalized anxiety issues, so grab a cup of chamomile tea to help calm those nerves.

8) Stress

Whether you’re boss is on your case, or you are finding it increasingly hard to calm down after rush hour traffic, try picking up some blueberries to help deal with stress. Blueberries are high in vitamin C, which can help the body handle high levels of stress. Also, the blueberries are packed with antioxidants which can help to protect your body from its effects.

9) “Brain fog”

If you’re feeling confused, forgetful, or like your mind is not running as it should, give your brain a boost with a cup of green tea. Approximately 80 per cent of the brain is made up of water, drinking fluids will keep it hydrated and functioning at its best. However, green tea can also maintain alertness by balancing blood sugar levels, and help protect the brain and decrease risk of dementia.

10) Lethargy

Whether it's lack of sleep or you are just feeling lethargic, drinking some beetroot juice could help increase your energy levels. Beetroot has a very high (healthy) sugar content and a lot of energizing nutrients such as magnesium and vitamin C. In addition, researchers at the University of Exeter found that drinking beetroot juice could enable people to exercise a little longer than normal.