Why have natural mood-boosting tactics been the talk of the town as of late? Around the world, the awareness of mental health and mental health issues has skyrocketed. In fact, according to Mind, 25% of all adults in the UK will now experience at least one mental health issue each year.
With this surge of awareness around mental health, alongside medicines and over-the-counter remedies, we’ve also seen a resurgence of natural mood boosters. Strategies like mindfulness, a healthy diet, quality sleep, consumption of herbal drinks over sugary ones, and yoga practice are widely accepted as successful practices for better mental health.
These techniques have been used for centuries by our ancestors, and more recently, are being researched more in-depth than ever before. Proof is in the topic of common office conversations in today’s society. More often than not, you’ll hear recounts of weekend plans that looked something like mindfulness retreats and healthy meal prep!
In this post, we detail the top eight natural food and beverage mood-boosters to stock as office snacks, or in your kitchen cabinets, for an everyday routine to encourage positive mental health.
Natural Mood-Boosting Drinks
Rooibos Tea: This tea is grown in South Africa and the minerals, like magnesium, found in the tea have been linked to reducing anxiety symptoms in its drinkers.
Turmeric Tea: There are countless teas that provide a mood boost, but nothing quite comes close to turmeric tea. Its antioxidants reduce the type of stress commonly connected to depression.
Water: Water is at the crux of all healthy diets. Not only does it improve your overall health from the inside out, but it’s been said to be more energising than a cup of coffee first thing in the morning.
Bone Broth: Bone broth stops neurotransmitters in your brain from signalling to signs of anxiety and help bring relaxation to the body.
Natural Mood-Boosting Foods
Blueberries: Blueberries are chock-full of antioxidants that help your brain focus. Bonus points: blueberries contain anti-aging properties.
Leafy Greens: The magnesium content of spinach, kale, and other leafy greens can increase serotonin levels in the brain, for an overall mood boost.
Dark Chocolate: If you’re craving something sweet, instead of reaching for the cakes and cookies, grab a piece of dark chocolate or cacao. Its benefits include improving stress and memory which lowering inflammation.
Fatty Fish: Omega-3 in fatty fish like salmon are linked to lower depression levels, especially for children and adolescents.
These foods are not the end-all-be-all for wellness, but healthy consumption items to enhance other practices for better overall mental health.
If you’d like to take better care of your mental health, check out the Calmer Community, a digital membership platform providing monthly content drops covering meditation, breathwork, movement, reading, and business tips too.
Specially written for Calmer by Jessica Baker, Content Specialist at Kitchen Cabinet Kings.