Did you know that 322 million people in the world suffer from depression? Every year, the number of citizens diagnosed with depression keeps increasing. This mental health condition can be managed with the right medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Here are the top foods that help soothe depression and make you feel better.
- Whole grains
Selenium is a mineral that helps improve your mood and makes you feel better mentally. Selenium has also been proven to reduce bouts of anxiety. Selenium deficiency can trigger your symptoms of depression. Whole grains are a good source of selenium. Choose multi-grain bread, whole wheat bread and pasta, and whole-grain cereals to get your dose of selenium. - Walnuts
Walnuts are on the list of top foods that help soothe depression because of their anti-inflammatory effects and high omega-3 fatty acid content. Several studies have shown that foods rich in omega-3 help fight depression. These studies revolve around the fact that the human brain needs lipids to function effectively. - Fresh vegetables and leafy greens
Fresh all leafy veggies have excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Leaves such as kale, spinach, and Swiss chard have anti-inflammatory properties and can prevent free radicals from damaging the brain cells. This brings down the risk of depression and also keeps the condition from being triggered. - Foods rich in proteins
Serotonin is also called the “feel-good” hormone, and this is created by a protein called tryptophan. Protein-rich meals seem to help people fight depression better and give them a boost of joy and happiness. Fresh and unprocessed meats and seafood, such as tuna and turkey, have good amounts of proteins. For vegetarians, soy, lentils, chickpeas, and nutritional yeast are good protein sources. - Berries
Berries are listed as one of the top foods that help soothe depression because of their vitamin C content and antioxidant properties. Berries are sweet and yummy. These also give your body considerable amounts of vitamin C. Some studies have related vitamin C deficiency to depression. You can enjoy eating blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries to fight this mental condition. - Dark chocolate
Many people indulge in chocolate to make them feel better when they feel depressed and end up feeling guilty about their food choice. This only makes depression worse. If you feel like having chocolate, pick up dark chocolate varieties. On the list of top foods that help soothe depression, dark chocolate is important as it contains flavanols that protect your brain, caffeine that makes you active and energetic, and phenylethylamine that releases good hormones in the body.
All these foods that help soothe depression can be made a part of your everyday food routine to manage the condition better. Do not hesitate to seek help when needed to improve your mental health.