(PCM) When you’re stressed out, depressed, or maybe even just bored, reaching for a bag of potato chips or calling out for delivery might feel like the best option. But believe it or not, eating the wrong foods can not only add inches to your waistline, but junk food can exasperate negative feelings, add to daily stress, and make you feel anxious, tired, and grouchy.
All the processed chemicals and lack of nutrients in fast food can throw off the body’s “feel-good chemistry,” according to Men’s Health. Instead of making your mood worse, eat one of these top “feel-good” foods the next time you’re tempted to head to the nearest drive thru.
1. Mussels. They might not be as quick and convenient as ordering a pizza, but it’s guaranteed you’ll feel a lot better after eating them. Mussels are loaded with vitamin B12, which helps insulate your brain cells, keeping your brain sharp. They also contain levels of zinc, iodine, and selenium, which help regulate for mood.
2. Swiss Chard. This leafy green is full of magnesium, and a 2009 study in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry found that higher magnesium intake was associated with lower depression scores. Spinach, soybeans, and halibut are other good sources of magnesium.
3. Blue Potatoes. Blue potatoes get their color from anthocyanins, antioxidants that provide neuro-protective benefits. Improve short-term memory and reduce mood-killing inflammation with these spuds! Other sources of anthocyanin include berries, eggplant, and black beans.
More:
Can Certain Foods Really Make You Mean?
Junk Food Can be Just as Addictive as Drugs like Cocaine and Nicotine
