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Happiness Hacks: Improve Your Mood With Food

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It isn’t news that driving a truck can be lonely and stressful. Many truck drivers battle the blues on a daily basis, even turning to drugs or alcohol to make them feel better.

But if you’re looking for ways to stay in a better mood while you’re on the road, you should take a look at what you’re eating. The food you eat plays a major role in your mood, so if you’re looking for a boost, take a look at these tips!

1. Eat more fish. Fish are loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, which help to improve the way your brain works. People in countries that consume a lot of fish show lower rates of depression, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder. Salmon is a great source of Omega-3s, but you can also get them from grass-fed beef, enriched eggs, and walnuts.

2. Load up on cherry tomatoes. They contain depression-fighting lycopene. A bonus? Lycopene also has cancer-fighting properties. If you have a sweet tooth, watermelon is also a good source of lycopene.

3. Spice up your life with chili peppers. The brain responds to the heat of chilis by releasing natural painkillers and mood boosters similar to those you’d experience during a runner’s high.

4. Beat the blues with beets. Beets are a great source of folate, which improves mood. Another bonus for truck drivers? Beets increase reaction time, helping to keep you safer on the road.

5. Chow down on garlic. Garlic not only fights cancer, but it also keeps blood flowing properly to your brain — an important factor in fighting depression.

6. Choose chicken. Chicken is not just a good source of protein — it is also a good way to get vitamin B12, which fights fatigue and improves mood.

7. Don’t skip the guac. Avocados are filled with serotonin, a feel-good neurotransmitter. The fat in this fruit (yup, not a vegetable) is also good for your brain!

8. Make green tea your beverage of choice. The antioxidants in green tea make more dopamine available to your brain. While bottled brews are fine, you’ll get more mood-boosting benefits if you brew your own!

Sources:
Women’s Health Magazine
Cosmopolitan
Psychology Today

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