Comfort Foods That Are Good For Your Mental Health
It’s comfort food season! Fall is known for its comforting food and vegetables. People get just as excited about fall foods as they do about Halloween. These 6 fall-centric foods are full of healthy nutrients that aren’t only good for your soul but good for your body and mind.
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Squash
What is Fall without Squash? Stuffed or mashed with butter and spices. But squash is not only delicious but also incredibly good for you. Many varieties of squash are rich in vitamin B6. A B6 deficiency can result in mental health issues including depression. Many types of squash also include magnesium which is also linked to emotional well-being.
Pumpkin/Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin is the pinnacle of fall food thanks to the Pumpkin Spice Latte aka The PSL, but actual pumpkin is good for your mental health. Pumpkin is full of lutein and zeaxanthin which will help you with memory and recall. Pumpkins also contain a large amount of tryptophan which is linked to serotonin production. Pumpkin Seeds are a great source of magnesium as well. Bake the seeds with some spices and use the rest of the edible pumpkins for soup or baking.
Apples
It’s apple orchard season! We’ve all heard the saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but there is something to that saying. Apples have a high phytochemical profile which helps your body regulate hormones and prevents DNA damage.
Cinnamon
The smell of cinnamon always makes me think of the holidays and comfort. It’s also incredibly good for you. Cinnamon helps keep your blood sugar stable which helps keep your mood stable.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes are a staple on Thanksgiving tables, but they’re not just a yummy treat, these are especially good for you. Sweet Potatoes are rich in antioxidant beta-carotene which helps reduce brain cell damage and oxidative stress on DNA, both of which are linked to depression and anxiety.
Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate is not only a good treat for after dinner, but also good for your mental health. Hot Cocoa is full of Flavanols which can improve blood oxygen levels in the brain which in turn will benefit your memory, processing speed, attention, and mental performance.
