If you’ve been feeling sluggish, irritable, and just downright fatigued lately, it may be time for a diet tune-up. Nutrition plays a much larger role in our overall mood than most of us know. The foods we eat every single day have the potential to leave us feeling worn down, or give us a nice boost of energy, mental clarity, and boost our mood.
Let’s take a look at seven plant-based foods to add to your diet to improve your mood and health.
7 Easy Plant-Based Foods to Boost Mood & Overall Health
#1 Dark Leafy Greens: We all should be eating our dark leafy greens for many reasons. For one, they are rich in folate (vitamin B9), which is important for overall mood support. Consider adding more dark leafy greens like kale and spinach to your diet by tossing some into your smoothie.
#2 Chickpeas: Chickpeas are an excellent source of plant-based protein and fiber, but they are also rich in B6, another important B vitamin for brain health and overall mood. Try making a homemade hummus with tahini, chickpeas, and olive oil, or enjoy some roasted chickpeas for a healthy snack.
#3 Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are rich in plant-based omega-3 fatty acids which are important for brain health and mood. Try sprinkling some chia seeds over a bowl of oatmeal, making a chia pudding, or adding a tablespoon of chia seeds to your smoothie.
#4 Magnificent Mushrooms Brain Blend: Dr. Vim’s Magnificent Mushrooms Brain Blend contains the perfect blend of medicinal mushrooms to help support mood, memory, and mental clarity. This powder blend can be mixed right into your morning cup of coffee, tea, blended into a smoothie, or mixed into your favorite sweet treat like these raspberry brownies.
#5 Yinergy or Vigor: While not a food, our adaptogenic herb blends Yinergy and Vigor are the ideal addition to your supplement plan to help support a more stable mood and to support hormone balance. If you feel like you could use a little boost of productivity, energy, and a boost in overall mood, consider Yinergy (for women) or Vigor (for men).
#6 Pumpkin Seeds: Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of zinc and magnesium. Magnesium may hold some anti-anxiety calming properties, and may even help promote better sleep. (1) Try adding pumpkin seeds to a salad or making a homemade trail mix with a combination of your favorite nuts and seeds.
#7 Brazil Nuts: Brazil nuts are rich in selenium, which is a very important mineral for brain health. It’s also important for thyroid health. Studies have found selenium to be linked to a better mood, so go ahead and make Brazil nuts a regular go-to snack or a healthy addition to your salads. (2)
Ready to support a better mood with plant-based eating? Consider adding these foods to your diet to see how big of a role nutrition plays in overall mood. The best part is not only will you be helping support your mood, but you will be supporting overall health at the same time.
Here’s one more reason we all should be focused on getting more plant-based foods into our diet.
Here’s to a better mood and better health one healthy plant-based food choice at a time!