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Mood foods

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Be happy
Eat lots of meat, dairy and protein-rich legumes if you need a little happiness in your day.

Tyrosine is an amino acid essential for building the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, as well as the happy hormones serotonin and dopamine regulate mood, altering our perception of pain and pleasure.

Cut down on stress
To keep in control, chow down on fruit salad or eat at least 5 different fresh fruits and veggies everyday!

Vitamin C is known to reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Fruits high in vitamin C are kiwi fruit, strawberries, mango, melon, orange, black currents, grapefruit, guava and papaya.

Relax
Our bodies are a mass of complicated chemicals and for muscles to relax they need magnesium. Magnesium-rich foods include seafood, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and whole grains.

Feel satisfied
No, we don't mean that kind of satisfaction, but if you do want to feel full after your meals, try adding chilli powder or cayenne pepper. It  has been shown to reduce hunger after meals and it burns more calories as it raises your body temperature.

Feel sexy
Try a little ginger. Studies have shown that ginger stimulates the circulatory system, increasing blood flow to the genitals. This leads to increased sensitivity levels that makes sex more enjoyable and making you feel a little more playful.

Calm down
Tuck into cold water fish like salmon, herring, and tuna, as well as walnuts and flaxseeds. Omega 3 fatty acids are great if you're the kind of person who is always on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

"Focus, Daniel-san!"
Mind been roving a bit lately? Eating the right fats will help. About 60% of the brain consists of fats. One of the most important fats is called DHA which is one of the primary fatty acids found in fish oils, flaxseed and walnut oils.

Wanna be sedated?

At the end of a busy day most of us like to sit down, relax and veg out. Literally. Chow down on these sedative foods and calm your mind; onions, fennel, honey, and spices like garlic, ginger, parsley, sage, spearmint, cumin, clove and anise.

Gimme energy!
If you suffer from fatigue, you may need more iron in your diet. If you're preggers or exercise regularly, make sure get enough iron in your diet. Get your iron levels checked by a doctor, just to be 100% safe.

Iron can be found in meat, lentils, eggs, fish and dark green leafy vegetables.

Feel confident
Protein can do great things for your confidence. The amino acid called tryptophan, which is found in protein, is used to boost the levels of  those feel good hormones that makes us feel content and safe. If you're an an insomnniac, stock up on protein filled foods because when you feel content you're more likely to have a good night's rest.

Heart friendly protein can be found in roasted pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, baked potato, seaweed, milk and turkey meat.

Can you think of any other "mood foods"? Tell us in the box below.
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