Some days are so miserable that you can’t force them out of bed, while others are ready to face the world with enthusiasm and energy. As scientific evidence progresses, your mood and energy levels are affected by the secretion of certain hormones, also called informally happy hormones. There are four happy hormones, mainly called serotonin, endorphins, dopamine and oxytocin. They are great foursomes that promote positive feelings, including happiness and joy, and affect your mood on a daily basis. (Read again: use happy hormones when lockdown blue turns green)
If you feel unpredictable and don’t really control yourself, try some of these amazing nutritional tricks shared by experts. These tricks can actually activate these happy hormones and make you feel much better about the world around you.
Shruti Bharadwaj, Senior Clinical Dietitian at Narayana Hrudayalaya Multispeciality Hospital Ahmedabad, shares tips and tricks for boosting these happy hormones in a telephone conversation with HT Digital.
Good hydration
_1652350475651_1652350485851.jpg "Drinking water helps promote happy hormones (Unsplash)")
In addition to drinking water first thing in the morning, hydrating all day can help wash away toxins from your body and stimulate the production of happy hormones.
Foods rich in folic acid
Foods rich in folic acid and vitamin B12, such as green leafy vegetables, legumes, asparagus, and eggs, can help improve your mood. According to one study, people with depression and anxiety are deficient in folic acid.
Nuts and seeds
Include them in your breakfast or treat as a snack during your meal. Nuts and seeds are perfect for your mood. They contain tryptophan, which helps secrete serotonin, which helps reduce the risk of depression. Some of the nuts and seeds you can include to increase your well-being index are almonds, walnuts, chia seeds and flax seeds, among others.
Foods rich in vitamin C
Eating a nutritious and balanced diet that contains certain minerals and vitamins can help boost oxytocin levels in the body. Vitamin C-rich foods such as lemons, oranges, berries and amla can make you happier and healthier.
Dark chocolate
A controlled amount of dark chocolate can make us happy. According to various studies, cocoa helps release endorphins.
Probiotics
Include probiotics such as curds, fermented foods such as idli / dosa, and buttermilk, which is known to enhance mood and cognitive function.
Other nutrition hacks proposed by nutritionists:
-Do you feel blue in the evening? Drink a little coffee to raise the levels of happy hormones.
-Include sweet potatoes, bananas and dars more often in your daily diet.
-Drink a glass of milk with turmeric 30 minutes before going to bed.
-Avoid eating too much.
-Don’t skip breakfast.
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