We all get a little cranky sometimes, but I’ve got good news for you. Happiness is just a forkful away. Yes, putting certain foods on your plate can actually help reduce stress, ease anxiety, and fight depression.
Turn that frown upside down with these 3 mood-boosting foods.
1. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt has twice as much protein as the traditional kind. Eating foods packed with protein can raise levels of a neurotransmitter in the brain called dopamine. Dopamine has been dubbed the mood-boosting brain chemical because it helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers, influencing your overall well-being.
A UCLA study also found that women who ate yogurt with added probiotics twice a day reacted more calmly when shown pictures of emotionally-charged faces.1
2. Salmon
So many people are concerned about fat. And while certain fats may be bad for your waistline, your body needs fat to keep you smiling.
The brain is made up of about 60% fat, so it needs fat to fuel itself and support communication among cells, which can help you feel happy. Research has found a diet rich in particular type of fat – omega-3 fatty acids – is linked to mood benefits that can help you feel less anxious and angry and more agreeable, improve your impulse control, and promote a positive mood.2
Deep-water fatty fish, such as salmon, albacore tuna, and anchovies are some of the richest sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids.
We know most people don’t eat fish every day. That’s why we developed Omega-3 Phospholipid for easy consumption. Each immediate-release softgel features SuperbaTM Krill Oil, a natural source of omega-3 fats.
Krill oil is a phospholipid form that offers some serious advantages. In one study,3 researchers found krill oil was better absorbed than regular fish oil supplements and better retained by red blood cells, the so-called “Omega-3 Index” that is an emerging marker of heart health.*
Each softgel also contains astaxanthin, a carotenoid that’s naturally found in krill. Astaxanthin produces antioxidant effects that work like a biochemical shield to protect the omega-3 fatty acids from oxidation. That’s good news for us, because it means we don’t need to use additives to maintain the long-term stability of Omega-3 Phospholipid.*
The result: A clean formula that delivers full potency, every time.
3. Almonds
Almonds are delicious nuts that are full of magnesium, one of the most abundant minerals in the body, which plays over 600 roles in maintaining your health. One of magnesium’s functions is to help the body produce more serotonin, a brain chemical that boosts your mood.
Without an adequate supply of magnesium, your body can't fully activate the enzyme that sets serotonin production and its mood-boosting benefits in motion.
Other essential nutrients – folic acid, niacin, iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 – contribute to adequate production of serotonin, but magnesium is one of most challenging to get from foods alone.
In fact, national nutrition surveys consistently show that Americans don’t get enough magnesium.4 One handful of almonds (25 almonds or about 1/4 cup) is an excellent source of magnesium, providing roughly 80mg (20% Daily Value) of this essential mineral.
To help fill any nutrient gap between what your diet provides and your body’s needs, consider adding Cal-Mg Complex to your supplement routine. Each tablet not only provides 150mg of magnesium (38% Daily Value) but also calcium and vitamin D for body benefits beyond mood. Think sturdy bones and supple blood vessel – two more benefits that are sure to keep you smiling.*
About Endurance Products Company
Endurance Products Company has been a trusted source of quality dietary supplements since 1978. Our sustained-release and extended-release tablets feature a unique vegetable wax matrix that releases nutrients in a slow, steady manner over a period of hours for optimal nutrient absorption and retention.
References
1. Tillisch K, Labus J, Kilpatrick L, et al. Consumption of fermented milk product with probiotic modulates brain activity. Gastroenterology. 2013;144(7):1394-401, 1401. PMID: 23474283.
2. Sublette ME, Ellis SP, Geant AL, Mann JJ. Meta-analysis of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in clinical trials in depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011;72(12):1577-1584. PMID: 21939614.
3. Ramprasath VR, Eyal I, Zchut S, Jones PJ. Enhanced increase of omega-3 index in healthy individuals with response to 4-week n-3 fatty acid supplementation from krill oil versus fish oil. Lipids Health Dis. 2013;12:178. PMID: 24304605.
4. National Institutes of Health. Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Consumers. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-Consumer/.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
