The chilly winter months are kind of a challenge for a lot of people. It gets dark earlier, there is less time in the day, and the weather is biting in much of the country, so we can’t just go for a nice jaunt outside when we feel blue. It’s a time when those grumpy feelings can really hit hard, leading us to snap at our loved ones, burrow into the couch, and feel like burying ourselves under the blankets until the warmth returns.
However tempting it may be, that behavior is not particularly practical. Instead, we could try a natural antidote to our dreary feelings: eating foods that can cheer us up instead of dragging us down.
Navigating the world of mood-boosting foods isn’t necessarily an easy task. We asked Michael Torchia, president and founder of Operation Fitness, a large-scale health and wellness conglomerate, to give us some tips on how to combat the winter blues.
As it turns out, there are a ton of options that can help combat depression, if the problem is that serious, and improve your overall mood even if you’re just a little blue. Sometimes depression isn’t just about feeling sad; you can also be stressed, angry, or anxious. And when those feelings hit, there are definitely certain foods that can help. For example, if you are feeling sluggish and can’t quite concentrate, something leafy, like a spinach salad, will do the trick.
If you’ve got a case of the blues, click through this slideshow and try one of our suggestions to help lift your spirits.
(If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts and need help in the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention hotline, 800-273-8255.)
Chocolate
It’s no secret that chocolate can be a miracle cure-all, at least in our heads. But using chocolate as a food to beat stress and depression might actually work. According to Torchia, “Experts say that chocolate — particularly dark chocolate — may help reduce the stress hormones that are swarming in your body.” So grab that chocolate bar and don’t be shy.
Spinach
Feelings of sluggishness can also go hand in hand with depression and the blues. Instead of reaching for the coffee, try a spinach salad. “The best way to get a boost? Eat folate-rich foods like spinach and other leafy green vegetables as well as potatoes, fortified breads and cereals, beans, peas, and mushrooms.”
