Feeling Depressed? Try these Dopamine Foods that Make you Happy!
27-09-2017 | Posted By: Chhavi | 2541 View(s)
The meaning of our lives is nothing if we are not happy. Some people run after money, some after love, but ‘Happiness’ is something that everyone runs after. It doesn’t matter how rich you are; it also doesn’t matter if you have the most beautiful life partner with you; if you are not happy, everything seems a waste! Everyone goes through ups and downs in life, and there are times we feel too frustrated that we do not understand what to do to elevate our mood. Well, what if I told you that you could stay happy and calm by eating some foods? Surprised, right? Well, there are some foods that make you happy and take all your worries away. Let’s dig deeper!
Have you been wondering how eating certain foods can make you happy? Well, it’s like this- there is a chemical in a human body which is responsible for controlling our mood, emotions and feelings of happiness. It is a type of neurotransmitter that determines your creativity, alertness, level of happiness, satisfaction, concentration levels and attention. Also, it affects brain processes that control emotional and movement responses. That chemical is called dopamine!
When there is a deficiency of dopamine in the body, then it impairs all these bodily functions, ultimately leading to all kinds of emotional and mood problems such as mood swings, insomnia, anxiety, lack of concentration and compulsive overeating that leads to weight gain.
Whenever you feel unhappy and exhausted, know that your body needs a good dose of dopamine. How would that be done? Well, diet is the answer to this! Eating dopamine-rich foods is the best way to elevate your mood and increase your level of happiness. So, want to put a smile on your face? Then, add these foods to your diet that will make you a happy-go-lucky person.
Here are the top 10 Foods that Make you Happy
1. Coffee
Do you start your day with a cup of coffee? If you do, then great, because coffee is one of the best dopamine-rich foods. Various researchers suggest that drinking two cups of coffee daily can give you a healthy dose of dopamine and serotonin- ‘the feel-good’ chemicals and make you happy within a short duration of 30 minutes.
2. Apples
Apples contain a potent antioxidant- Quercetin that promotes mental health. According to several studies, quercetin is effective in stimulating dopamine, and it also prevents neurodegenerative disease, making you feel happy.
Not just that, there is another powerful antioxidant, polyphenols, present in apples that protect dopamine cells from getting damaged. If you really want to reap most of the benefits of apples, then you should eat one apple daily with its peel. It will keep you healthy, happy and fit.
3. Bananas
Bananas are loved by most people! But, they don’t only taste delicious and promote fat loss, but also make you happy and calm. They are one of the best foods that make you happy.
Tyrosine is an amino acid is present in bananas, and this particular amino acid helps in regulating and stimulating dopamine levels.
Bananas are loaded with other nutrients as well which keeps your heart healthy. Eating one ripe banana on a daily basis can make you feel happy, increase your memory, alertness and concentration. So, what are you thinking? Go, grab a banana and eat it to feel happy and energetic.
4. Eggs
Eggs are the perfect breakfast for most of the people. But did you know that eggs are a dopamine-rich food? Well, eggs are packed with amino acids which not only enhance your metabolism but also boost dopamine production. Phenylalanine is one of the nine amino acids that play a crucial role in the production of dopamine. And eggs are packed with phenylalanine which makes them one of the best foods that make you happy.
And, what’s more? There are a plenty of ways to include eggs in your daily diet, such as omelettes, boiled eggs, scrambled eggs and so on. So, eat an egg daily and say goodbye to your worries.
5. Dark Chocolate
Be it a kid or an elder; chocolate can put a smile on anyone’s face. The reason for this is that dark chocolates boost dopamine production in our body, making us feel happy and calm.
Chocolate is packed with phenylalanine, an amino acid that boosts dopamine production. You should look for chocolate which contains more than 85 percent cocoa as it has the highest concentration of phenylalanine.
So, next time, you feel sad, eat dark chocolate But, make sure not to overeat dark chocolate because the sugar and fat content present in it can be harmful and can lead to obesity as well as other health problems.
6. Almonds
Almonds are considered one of the best nuts for dopamine production. Almonds are rich in phenylalanine, an amino acid essential for boosting the production of dopamine. On the top of that, almonds are packed with healthy fat and fibre; both of which help in improving brain health as well as overall health. Eat a handful of almonds on a daily basis to increase your happiness, concentration and alertness.
7. Salmon
Being rich in omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is considered one of the best dopamine-rich foods that make you happy. In order to build neurotransmitters like dopamine that protect us against depression and mood swings, it is necessaryto get a dose of omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon is low in cholesterol and saturated food too.
In a nutshell, eating fatty fish is good for our mood and happiness, and so you should add fish and tuna to your diet to elevate your mood. Eating smoked or grilled fish is a very healthy option to increase and maintain your dopamine level.
8. Soy Foods
Soy foods also help in increasing your dopamine level and so you must include these foods in your diet. Soy foods contain tyrosine, which enhances the production of dopamine in your body, thus making you feel happy.
Add tofu, soy milk and other types of soy foods to increase your level of happiness, concentration, attention and alertness.
9. Beetroot
Beetroot has many health benefits. It has a high nutritional value that keeps us healthy and fit. When it comes to dopamine, it is indeed one of the best foods that make you happy.
Beetroot contains betaine, which is a kind of amino acid and an antidepressant that boosts the production of dopamine. Also, it has low-calorie content and is packed with iron, which makes it one of the healthiest choices for increasing dopamine levels in the body.
To elevate your mood naturally, drink a glass of fresh beetroot juice on a daily basis. You can also add beetroot to your salads.
10. Watermelon
Watermelon is a powerhouse of the essential amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine helps in increasing dopamine levels in the body, which in turn, boosts your mood. Also, it is fat-free and is rich in vitamin B6 that is used by the body to produce dopamine.
Eat a watermelon daily, or you can also drink a glass of fresh watermelon juice daily to feel happy.
Add these dopamine-rich foods to your diet and bring more happiness to your life.
“Be happy; it drives people crazy.”
