Did you know? At any given time, as many as 87% of all Americans have frozen treats like ice cream in their freezers.
That’s not a surprising fact, since many people believe their frozen treats contribute to their happiness. And you know what? They’re not wrong! While most people wouldn’t consider eating ice cream a good habit to be into, science has really shown that these frozen treats make you happier.
To learn why this is, and to discover some more (somewhat healthier) foods that boost your mood, keep reading.
How Ice Cream Boosts Your Mood
We’ve long suspected it, but science has proven it: frozen treats like ice cream can boost your mood, just as long as it’s eaten in healthy portions.
Neuroscientists for the Institute of Psychiatry in London examined the brains of people while they were eating their favorite frozen treats. They used an fMRI scanner, which detects local changes in brain blood flow during a mentally-stimulating event. What they specifically noticed was an abundance of neurological activity in the orbitofrontal cortex. In plain English, that means the brain reacts to eating ice cream in the same way it would if you listened to your favorite music or won the lottery.
So eating ice cream causes feelings of pleasure, but does that necessarily indicate true, lasting happiness? For all practical purposes, we think it does. According to experts in positive psychology, long-term happiness is little more than the total measure of positive feelings over time. Since these frozen treats can definitely create positive feelings, we can assume it definitely leads to happiness, just like moving somewhere new or participating in a fun hobby.
While ice cream is wonderful, sadly we can’t exactly eat it all the time. So next we’ll detail some highly nourishing foods that have also been shown to have mood-boosting effects.
Fatty Fish
The majority of urgent care centers are open seven days a week, but you don’t want to take advantage of by having a heart attack due to poor health! To that end, from here on we’ll be talking about some mood-boosting foods that not only make you happy, but may improve your health, too.
Although some of us may pretend that we live to eat, we all really know we’re supposed to eat for nourishment. Sadly, modern conventional diets don’t always contribute much in the way of vitamins, minerals, and other things we need to thrive.
One of the things our bodies need is a group of essential fats (often called “good fats”) known as Omega-3 fatty acids. The body can’t produce them itself, so it has to get them through its diet. One of the best — and easiest — ways to get these fatty acids is through fish like salmon and albacore.
These fats contribute to making the brain more fit, increasing fluidity of brain cell membranes and improving brain development. You might say that, on a very physical level, it “makes you smarter.”
Science also suggests it may make you happier, too. Some studies have indicated that consuming Omega-3-rich fish oil alone could lower depression scores. Either way, fish and fish oil with Omega-3 fatty acids are incredibly healthful, and they’re also a favorite of people interesting in maximizing their brain fitness.
Dark Chocolate
Another favorite of top-performing high-achievers, chocolate is rich with mood-boosting compounds. Like ice cream, its sugar content may improve mood because it’s a quick source of fuel for your brain. But it goes beyond a simple sugar high with energizing caffeine, theobromine, and N-acylethanolamine — which is chemically similar to cannabinoids and linked to improved moods.
There is some debate among experts as to whether chocolate really contains enough said compounds to result in a psychological response. But what we do know is that chocolate is high in flavonoids, which improve your health by reducing inflammation and increasing blood flow to the brain. We also know that chocolate has a very high hedonic rating, which is a fancy way of saying it tastes and smells amazing. That alone can be a mood-booster in itself.
Finally, dark chocolate is specifically recommended for mood-boosting purposes, since milk chocolate contains added ingredients like sugar and fat. Plus, dark chocolate is higher in flavonoids, despite being lower in sugar.
Bananas
Bananas are full of mood-boosting properties. They’re high in vitamin B6, which helps create neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin — famous feel-good chemicals. Bananas are also shown to be excellent sources of prebiotics, which helps feed healthy gut bacteria. A healthy gut microbiome is associated with lower rates of mood disorders, making bananas a helpful fixture of a good diet.
Additionally, a single large banana can give you 16 grams of sugar and 3.5 grams of fiber. When combined with fiber, sugar gets released into your bloodstream slowly, resulting in more stable sugar levels over time instead of overwhelming your system with a bunch fo sugar all at once. This helps contribute to a more positive and stable mood. Mood swings and irritability can set in when blood sugar levels are too low, so when you’re beginning to feel down, try a banana to turn your mood around!
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds of all kinds are packed with fiber, healthy fats, and plant-based proteins. They also provide tryptophan, an amino acid that produces feel-good neurochemical serotonin. Almonds, peanuts, cashews, and walnuts, as well as pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame seeds, are all excellent sources of these nutrients.
Nuts and seeds are also a large part of both the MIND and Mediterranean diets. Both diets emphasize fresh, whole foods with a limited intake of processed items, and are thought to help support healthy brain function.
Additionally, a 10-year study involving almost 16,000 people suggested that a diet including nuts could lead to a 23% lower risk of depression.
Last, certain nuts and seeds, including almonds, Brazil nuts, and pine nuts, are excellent sources of selenium and zinc. Zinc and selenium deficiency is associated with higher rates of depression, and both are important for brain function.
Coffee
Coffee is the world’s most popular drink, and that’s no surprise. It seems like you can find a trendy cafe on every street corner, and it’s a prominent beverage on nearly every restaurant’s menu.
But what you may not have considered is that coffee just might make the world happier, too. Its caffeine prevents a compound in the brain, called adenosine, from attaching to brain receptors and promoting feelings of tiredness. Although this is a natural process, being hindered by caffeine intake results in increased attention and alertness. These are important attributes of a positive mood. Caffeine also releases mood-boosting neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine.
From comforting frozen treats to caffeine-packed coffee, these are some of the world’s happiest foods.
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