The happiness diet exists!

I have always thought that the goal of life is the pursuit of happiness. And although this means a balance between love, health, work and money, it is known by all that food plays an essential role. It is often overlooked that our mood depends on what we eat, and that there are foods that help us to be happier and others that provoke anger and aggression.

The first thing to keep in mind and that you have probably already noticed yourself is that the feeling of hunger puts us in a bad mood, makes us more depressed and more irritable. And with this premise comes the first aspect to take into account: let’s try not to go hungry, we should not spend more than 3-4 hours without eating anything and not only because of our mood but because it is not good for our body (levels blood sugar does not remain constant and in the next intake our body will experience an unwanted rise in sugar and consequently in insulin). Therefore, forget about any diet where you go hungry. The diet, from my point of view, has to be easy to do, without obligations, enjoying eating and of course without starving. You can read aboutmy working method .

So, knowing that we do not have to go hungry, let’s see what nutrients and active principles in food (and the foods richest in these) promote happiness and more influence our mood. You must prioritize them in your diet if you want to take care of your emotional well-being.

OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS.   These healthy fats, in addition to helping lower cholesterol, help us with our emotional stability. The foods richest in AGw3 are blue fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, anchovies …) and dried fruits (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts …)

TRYPTOPHAN. It is an essential amino acid (a small part of a protein that the body cannot produce on its own) that promotes the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that inhibits anger and aggression. It also controls anxiety and stress and also prevents insomnia. It is the active ingredient in almost all antidepressant drugs. We find it in bananas, nuts, eggs, milk, whole grains, dates, and chickpeas. 

THEOBROMINA. It is an alkaloid that is only found in cocoa, guarana and yerba mate. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, therefore they cause an immediate effect on our emotional state. However, it is contraindicated for very nervous people with hypertension since they influence the nerves.

PHENYLALANINE. It is an essential amino acid that has a clear antidepressant effect, in fact it is usually included in many commercial drugs and also works as an analgesic. In addition, it helps to increase endorphin levels, which gives us a feeling of well-being. It is found in foods rich in protein, both of animal origin, such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy products; as of vegetable origin: asparagus, chickpeas, lentils, peanuts …

VITAMINS B and C.  These vitamins play an essential role in our body and therefore are essential for our emotional balance. When there is a deficit of these vitamins we feel fatigued and weak (hence there are vitamin supplements only with these vitamins). Folic acid, B9, has a direct relationship with mood and is that its deficiency is related to a greater propensity to develop depression. Vitamin B is found in proteins of animal and vegetable origin: meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ … Folic acid is found, above all, in offal, green leafy vegetables and legumes . Vitamin C is found manyvegetables and fruits, although the highest concentration is found in bell pepper, parsley, kiwi, broccoli and citrus.

CARBON HYDRATES. This is probably the reason why being on a diet (depending on which diet) makes our character sour and is that carbohydrates are essential for the body. Although in a healthy diet we should not abuse carbohydrates, they are essential for our body. They are made up of various sugars that are our main source of energy and that are released during digestion. It is the food that gives us vitality the fastest – that is why it is so present in the diet of athletes – but, in addition, it puts us in a good mood, because it causes a satisfaction that other foods do not give you.

And finally, and even if they are not food, the habitual practice of physical exercise also improves our mood , since with it we secrete endorphins (as with phenylalanine) which gives us a feeling of well-being. We also feel more energetic, stronger and lighter, a whole set of sensations that leads us to be happy.

Do not hesitate and put a smile on your life!