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Mood-Boosting Foods

Feeling stressed with all the hustle and bustle of the New Year?
Suffering from a case of the winter blues?
Cranky from a work project gone awry?

The right nutrition can help you feel less anxious, more productive and generally happier. Instead of being stuck in the doldrums, take a quick trip to the grocery store and fill a basket with these mood-boosting foods:

Colorful Fruits

Yellow and orange fruits like papaya, mangoes and oranges are full of vitamin B6 and folic acid, which studies say may help improve depression and anxiety.

Added bonus: the tart smell of the fruit will awaken your senses.

Fish

The omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish can also help with depressive symptoms. If you’re worried about mercury content, try wild Pacific salmon, shrimp, flounder and haddock, which are lower in mercury.

Are you a vegetarian who doesn’t eat fish? Talk to your doctor about possibly taking a fish oil supplement.

Barley

A complex carbohydrate, barley helps stimulate the release of serotonin — the “feel good” hormone. It can also help fulfill your craving for something hearty and filling.

Celery

Celery contains a chemical that lowers the concentration of stress hormones in your blood, according to research. The crunching motion also helps release stress and relaxes your blood vessels. If plain celery isn’t exciting enough, dip stalks in protein-packed hummus.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a natural source of melatonin, which can regulate sleep and reduce insomnia (a symptom of both depression and anxiety). Other dietary sources of melatonin include oats, rice, sweet corn, bananas and radishes.

Chocolate

Give yourself permission to indulge a little! Most people feel better after a few squares of chocolate. We don’t know exactly why, but chocolate has mood-boosting powers. It could be the serotonin-boosting carbs, chemicals that boost dopamine or simply that fulfilling a sweet craving is satisfying!

Added bonus: chocolate contains caffeine for an energy boost.

Another Way to Boost Your Mood

The way we feel about our appearance can subconsciously affect our mood. A perceived physical flaw can have a tremendous impact on our emotional state, and in some cases even cause depression and anxiety.

Cosmetic surgery can change how you feel about your appearance and improve your psychological well-being, too. When you believe you look good, you will feel better on the inside and project more confidence.

If there is an aspect of your appearance that you would like to address, consider contacting Dr. Eric Pugash, a plastic surgeon in Vancouver. Dr. Pugash would be happy to discuss your personal cosmetic goals as well as the available treatment options. Call (604) 522-5199 today to schedule a consultation.