Our association with food is quite unique. No matter how much you earn or how good you look, nothing can make you happier than a beautiful meal. However attractive or unhealthy, there is always an array of tasty and healthy foods that is just as satisfying. All that for another time; but for now, here is a list of five foods that will boost your mood and calm you down.

1. Walnuts:

One amidst the “Worlds healthiest foods” (this should already make you happy), walnuts are packed with goodness. Among other nutritional benefits, these nuts are rich in essential fatty acids that help in improving cell health. About seven nuts a day help in enriching your body, with all their benefits, ranging from better heart health to lowering cholesterol and even cutting the cancer cells and giving you a punch of antioxidants. Walnuts are responsible for enhancing brain health and inducing weight loss. But what really helps to calm you down is the lowered cholesterol levels that ease out the blood flow. You can feel yourself relaxing within minutes.

2. Green & White Tea:

Interestingly, green and white teas come from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. White tea leaves are usually younger and can be picked only during the first few days of early spring. Oolong tea (also comes from the same plant, but just varies in oxidization) is also another tea variant that is great for you. These teas are full of antioxidants that do wonders for your immunity. They help to regulate your blood sugar levels, and also keep you alert and hydrated. These teas increase your metabolism and lower cholesterol levels. And once they do all these things, you automatically feel rejuvenated and fresh. Not to mention these teas do contain caffeine, but with so many benefits, that little bit of caffeine can be forgiven!

3. Legumes:

A brilliant source of complex carbs, protein and fiber, whether you pick kidney beans, soy or borlotti, legumes are highly satiating foods. They help to lower cholesterol levels in the blood, protecting you against heart diseases. The complex carbs that these legumes contain digest slowly, and that helps in weight loss and also regulates the neurotransmitter, serotonin, which is responsible for cheering you up.

4. Dark Chocolate:

The word chocolate is enough to get you grinning (unless you are allergic to chocolate, in which case, I feel sorry for you). And the good news is that apart from being extremely yummy, dark chocolate is quite healthy too. Rich in fiber, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, copper, zinc, potassium and selenium (that is quite a long list already!), chocolate is a powerful antioxidant. It raises the good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers the bad cholesterol (LDL). It helps in lowering blood pressure, and relaxes the arteries. Chocolate is also known to protect your skin against sun damage.

5. Fish:

Fish is truly a miracle food. Firstly, it is a low calorie protein (high protein), and secondly it is called brain food because it is the only natural source of polyunsaturated essential omega 3 fatty acids. These acids are known to lower depression. Fish does wonders for your skin and hair. It boosts brain development, and is a great sun-less source of vitamin D. It prevents heart diseases and also protects against Alzheimer’s.

The proof is in the pudding – yummy can be healthy too! And nothing like warming up to a scrumptious, nutritious plate of food that will almost instantly make you HAPPY!

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by Shirin Mehdi via STYLECRAZE