Eating seeds is more likely to raise your mood than any other food, according to research. Seeds have been shown to improve people’s wellbeing and moods more than cakes, sweets and chocolates.
Despite this, seven in ten women and one in two men enjoy sweet treats when they are stressed or looking for a mood rise. Just one in seven people choose fruits, vegetables or whole grains that are shown to fight stress and raise low moods.
The poll of 2,000 people found that half ate unhealthy comfort food when they wanted to lift their mood, but only 28 per cent turned to friends or family to feel better. Experts warn that many people are “eating their way to sadness” by eating sweets and junk food.
Pumpkin seeds topped a top-ten list of mood-raising foods lined out by dietitian Sarah Schenker and food psychologist Christy Fergusson. The other items were salmon, rice, quinoa, chickpeas, coconut, asparagus, spinach and beans.
The research found men are more likely than women to turn to specific mood-increasing foods such as oats, quinoa and brown rice at times of stress or when they are looking to improve their health. Perhaps worryingly, women are twice as likely as men to buy their friends or colleagues sugary foods such as chocolate or biscuits to comfort them, which may make their problems worse.
Dr Sarah Schenker, a clinical dietitian, said: “It’s shocking to see wholesome eating habits go out the window when we face a challenge in the day or a short while in a routine. This is when healthy eating is most important. We need to replace the short-lived highs we get from refined sugar and processed fat with healthy choices and long-term shopping and eating habits. This starts with recognizing the types of food that can provide nutritional and psychological benefits, those which are scientifically proven to balance your mood.”
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