9 Foods That Can Help Fight Fatigue and Depression

Fatigue and depression can weaken the immune system and be detrimental to your overall health and wellbeing. Can foods really help fight depression? Good nutritional habits can help beat negative feelings, increase energy and improve your overall wellbeing.

Here are 9 foods that can help to naturally increase your energy and mood.

1. Chocolate

It is probably the most common product that helps to improve your mood. Chocolate is metabolized by the body into serotonin, one of the mood enhancing hormones. Dark chocolate also increases efficiency, improves the digestive system, and helps to relieve stress. It contains magnesium, which helps to make the nervous system more stable.

2. Meat

If you are not a vegetarian, you get positive emotions from eating meat such as lean (grass-fed) beef. This meat contains iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin E and vitamin B. According to research, grass-fed meat increases blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids and decreased levels of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids. This has been linked with a lower risk of a host of disorders, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, and inflammatory disease.

3. Oatmeal

Oatmeal or porridge helps to fight bad mood. You should eat oatmeal for breakfast. It will help to remove toxins from the body and to get rid of insomnia. Moreover, it relieves the stress condition of the body. This product does not only nourishes the body, but also helps to fight negative thinking. You can also add some berries, which are an excellent choice against nervous tension. Strawberries and blueberries help to get rid of insomnia, coping with fatigue, irritability, and normalize nervous system.

4. Bananas

Bananas are considered to be the king of mood-boosting foods. They contain dopamine, tryptophan, and high vitamin B6 level. Studies show that the more vitamin B6 present, the faster your brain converts tryptophan into serotonin which is one of the neurotransmitters of mood.

5. Seafood

One of the best things you can do for your brain health is to get more omega 3s in your diet. These healthy fats, which are abundant in fish have the power of lowering symptoms of depression. In fact, according to research, higher fish consumption is associated with a 17% lower risk of depression.

6. Broccoli

Broccoli contains large amounts of iron, magnesium, potassium, iodine, sodium, boron, calcium, manganese, and copper. This vegetable is also very beneficial to pregnant women because it contains many folic acids which is necessary for cell growth, the production of healthy red blood cells and mood regulation. Folic acid also helps to deal with panic attacks and anxiety. Broccoli helps to restore hormonal balance, removes toxins and carcinogens from the body, and can lower symptoms of depression. 

7. Almonds

Another good food is almonds, mainly due to the fact that they contain a high amount of magnesium which positively influences serotonin (the ‘feel-good’ brain chemical). They are also a great source of selenium which can help decrease depressive symptoms. 

8. Beans

It is the irreplaceable source of vitamins of group B. They are necessary for the smooth functioning of the nervous system. Moreover, they help to elevate the mood and to normalize your sleep.

9. Eggs

Packed with essential nutrients including calcium, vitamins D and A, protein, thiamine, riboflavin, and pantothenic, eggs are a great food to increase energy and decrease depressive symptoms. Aside from the mood-boosting effects of the minerals found in eggs, they are also regarded as comfort food and can help give you more positive feelings.

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