What Foods to Boost Your Mood

Your diet could be partly to blame to your feeling . 

Researchers split nearly 70 people (all diagnosed with depression) into two groups. The first group had no form of therapy but switched to a healthy, Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, low-fat dairy, fish, eggs, seeds and nuts. The second group met regularly with a support group and continued to chow down on sweets, processed meats and salty snacks.

After three months, the healthy eaters showed more than a third of them no longer even met the criteria for being depressed.

See what a difference foods can make for you.

1. Yes, again. Again chocolate
Finally, science backs up what many of us already know: chocolate does make you happy. Experts say it could be thanks to the antioxidants found in dark chocolate. So go ahead! Indulge.

2. Salmon
Good news for worrywarts: Regularly eating salmon—and mackerel, tuna, herring and other fatty fish—can help lower anxiety, research shows. Experts say it’s because of their omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s alter brain chemicals linked with mood—specifically dopamine and serotonin.

3. Green Tea
On a bad day, sipping a cup of tea can be just the thing to soothe your senses, calm your nerves and brighten a dark mood. Make that green tea and you may reap even more benefits, researchers say.

4. Yogurt & Other Probiotics
There’s lots of buzz these days about probiotics fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi and sauerkraut that help keep your gut bacteria in check. Recent studies in both animals and humans suggest links between balanced gut bacteria and better mood, less stress and anxiety, and lower risk of depression.