The foods that make you happiest might not be the ones you would expect, according to experts.
Many people think the fastest way to feel happy with food is sugar and fat. But, according to Felice Jacka of the Food and Mood Centre at Deakin Univ., the idea that these foods make us happy is a story we’ve been fed by advertisements.
Prof. Jacka said, “People are like walking wallets to food companies.”
They want people to buy treats and fast food, so they sell us the idea that it boosts our happiness, but Prof. Jacka adds, “It's a bit like if you gave someone a glass of champagne. Feels good in the short term, but the long-term impact is the opposite.”
Prof. Jacka is an expert in nutritional psychiatry. She studies how food impacts mood and mental health. Food can impact our brains so much that it can fight depression or increase our risk. Sugary things and ultra-processed foods leave people with anxiety, irritability, anger and lethargy. Over the long term, they can take a toll on mental health.
Pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Kara Margolis at New York Univ. studies how gut health relates to mood. She stresses that whole grains rich in fermentable fiber aid the microbiome. Fermentable fiber lowers inflammation, aids blood sugar health, improves the link between the gut and the brain and boosts mood.
Prof. Jacka said that, to have a happy holiday season, you should avoid a white Christmas. The song is fun, but cut out processed flour and eat whole grain options instead. She also said you should cook with love instead of from a box — make things from scratch to avoid the additives and sweeteners you don’t want.
Remember your greens! Your Christmas tree shouldn’t be the only vegetation coming into your house this season. No one thinks of spinach and kale as happy foods. But, rich in folate, magnesium and B vitamins, they boost your serotonin and dopamine without sugar and calm your nervous system at the same time. That means you are both happier and less anxious.
Fatty fish can fight both mental fog and feeling emotionally drained. The omega-3 fatty acids in them boost brain function. But, if you aren’t a fish person, chia seeds, flaxseeds and walnuts all contain omega-3 fatty acids too.
And, even though berries are out of season, citrus fruit isn’t. Both are high in vitamin C that fights inflammation and stress. You can use frozen berries in smoothies or reach for a delicious orange as a snack!
All of these foods will make you happier than a doughnut in the long run. A treat may be tasty, but it’s not making your body happier, and it won’t help your mood in the long run. So, this holiday season, eat happy foods to keep your spirits high.
