Foods That Will Boost Your Mental Health

With more and more studies being conducted around the globe, it seems that some of the answers to maintaining our mental health are right in front of us in the foods that we eat!

So, let’s take a look at 25 foods that are known to boost your mental health and cognitive development.

Avocados

Avocados are a fantastic source of healthy unsaturated fats that support the brain. Consuming monounsaturated fats (the “good fats”) help reduce high blood pressure, which is linked to cognitive deficiency.

Avocados are also packed with folate, a B-vitamin which is known to boost serotonin and dopamine.

Spinach

Spinach is another food that is rich in folate. According to scientists, low folate levels are predominately linked with mental health issues.

A study in 2017 showed that people suffering with depression had a lower intake of folate compared to those without depression.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate contains the ingredient cocoa, which is a type of antioxidant. This is especially important for the brain because of its high susceptibility to oxidation (a process that damages vital molecules in our cells).

Antioxidants fight oxidative stress which causes age-related cognitive deterioration and brain disease.

Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts are high in vitamin E as well as selenium, which is an antioxidant known to improve mood levels by reducing inflammation. People with high amounts of inflammation and low levels of vitamin E are often vulnerable to mood disorders and anxiety.