Photo: Kaptain Kobold / Flickr

Ever heard the saying, You are what you eat? Well it seems that that adage may be truer that you think. Food and your state of mind have a strong connection and we tend to forget that our mind is directly linked to our body. If you do not give your body the nutrients it requires, your mind can easily suffer and this will dampen your mood and, in some cases, cause depression. If you keep your body healthy, your mind will follow.

Folic acid

A lack of folic acid can cause the serotonin levels in the brain to drop, resulting in depression. Patients suffering from depression have a higher depravation of folic acid than the average person and as little as 200 micrograms of folic acid can go a long way. The amount can be obtained by eating a cup of cooked spinach or drinking a fresh glass of orange juice.

Selenium

Selenium is an antioxidant found in whole grain cereals, sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, swordfish and tuna, and should be eaten on a regular basis. Although great amounts may not elevate your mood, not getting enough selenium will cause irritability, anxiety, hostility and depression.

Avoid comfort food

When you are stressed or angry, it is easy to binge on chocolates and other comfort foods as they provide instant relief from your emotional trauma. These foods do not improve your mood, but only work as a distraction to what you are feeling. When feeling bad, try to pig out on healthier options such as macaroni and cheese made from whole wheat pasta and low-fat cheese or dark chocolate instead of light.

Foods which can improve your mood are whole grains, fruit, egg whites, vegetables, beans, nuts, fish and low-fat dairy. Foods which affect you negatively are alcohol, caffeine, sugar and products containing processed flour.

Tags: Depression, food