Can you eat yourself happily? These foods put you in a good mood

Get happier by eating?

That sounds good.

In fact, there are some foods that can act like mood enhancers through their ingredients.

At the moment in particular, the general

for many people

: a second partial lockdown due to the coronavirus *, the request to avoid contacts and stay at home more - and then also the dreary autumn weather.

It is not always easy to stay positive and in a good mood.

In addition to getting plenty of exercise and being able to keep in touch with loved ones online, you can also use certain

to help

your

.

Here's what they are and why they can lift your spirits.

Eating happily through soul food?

Chocolate and fruits help build serotonin

On the one hand, you can differentiate between “

” - food for the soul that doesn't necessarily have to be healthy - and really healthy foods.

Soul food can include a pizza, a pasta casserole or a delicious stew.

Treat yourself to your favorite food if it is good for you.

And don't be afraid of carbohydrates: The Association for Independent Health Advice points out that a diet that is low in protein and high in carbohydrates can make you happier and more balanced in the long run.

So you don't have to go without bread, pasta and rice - whole grain products are ideal.

Have you heard of the fact that

makes you happy?

From a physiological point of view, there is indeed something to it: Chocolate contains tryptophan, an amino acid that the body

converts

into serotonin, the so-called

.

But if you eat too much chocolate, you also consume more calories, too much sugar and too much fat.

That probably won't make you happier in the long run.

If you're looking for a healthier alternative, plums, pineapples, and bananas are also high in

.

Also read:

Antioxidants and probiotics make you happy: these foods contain them

Various studies have confirmed

that

closely related to

a person's

.

For example, a study by Harvard Medical School found that

can help relieve symptoms of an anxiety disorder.

These foods contain many antioxidants:

• whole grain products

• Legumes like peas, beans, and lentils

• Apples

• Berry

• broccoli

• artichokes

• nuts

Why is

important to the body?

If you lack serotonin, you can suffer from listlessness, anxiety and depression.

A

is also an important factor for well-being - also for the psychological one.

95 percent of the serotonin receptors are located in the intestinal lining.

Researchers are therefore also investigating the extent to which probiotics can have a positive effect on the intestinal flora.

are particularly numerous in these foods:

• yogurt

• kefir

• pickled cucumbers

• sauerkraut

Also interesting:

These nutrients lift your mood - eat more foods with them

A recent study that appeared in the World Journal of Psychiatry

identified

that can help prevent and treat depressive disorders.

These are: iron, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, potassium, selenium and vitamin A, B1 (thiamine), B6, B9 (folic acid), B12, vitamin C and zinc.

How can you increase your intake of these nutrients?

By including the following

:

• Wild salmon

• seafood

• green leafy vegetables, for example lamb's lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, pak choi

• paprika

• Nuts and seeds

Happy through spicy food?

Happy through pain?

Sounds paradoxical, but:

causes a painful stimulus, through which

are released

in the brain

.

These, in turn, are the body's own happiness hormones.

So you should add a little spiciness to your food more often, for example with

.

Ginger, cut into small pieces and infused with hot water for tea, can improve your mood with its spiciness.

Read more:

List of rubric lists: © picture alliance / dpa / Oliver Berg