19 Mix of Awesome Recipes That Fights Against Depression
Depression sucks. It’s often described as feeling of sadness even when everything is going good with your life. Reaching out is important when someone is suffering from that. However, one bad thing about it is that it makes one having the tendency to be alone when it’s the exact time when they shouldn’t be. Having supportive friends is very important to help one in getting through this hardship. There’s also various other methods such as regular exercise, talking to therapist and also eating foods that can help alleviate or ward-off depression. In this post, we will be checking out those wonderful recipes that involve the use of essential ingredients that might help against depression.
1. Beet and Feta Salad with Balsamic Vinegar
Beets support serotonin production thanks to its betaine content. Serotonin as we know it is the hormone responsible for making us feel good. So, intake of this reddish vegetable might help with good mood. This recipe is super easy to make. It has four main ingredients – beetroot, spinach, feta cheese and walnuts. The beets will be baked and walnuts toasted. Then, mix them all together in a bowl with drizzles of balsamic vinegar.
2. Mini Seaweed Rice Rolls
The iodine-rich seaweed isn’t only good for healthy thyroid function but also essential nutrients to activate dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine is the hormone associated with happiness. Serotonin is the hormone that regulates mood. Needless to say, you need them in the right amount to be feeling good. The mini seaweed rice rolls is a Korean dish that you gotta love. It’s basically a roll of rice with an outer seaweed sheet enclosing an interior of 3 different vegetables. You can use radish, carrot and spinach for the vegie filling. It’s an addictive dish that makes a good picnic food.
3. Buffalo Chicken Deviled Eggs
Eggs are not only loaded with protein, they’re packed with omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins that can help to boost mood. Results of multiple studies generally suggest that the omega-3s are effective. That’s one great reason to have more of them in our diet. This buffalo chicken deviled eggs is just the right recipe to help you consume more eggs! The boiled chicken eggs work like tiny little bowls that hold the shredded chicken mixed with mayo, pepper, salt and hot sauce. These nutrient dense snacks are the right little thing to have when you’re on the go!
More eggs to come! 30 Delicious Egg Recipes You Don’t Wanna Miss
4. Spiced Sweet Potato With Paprika And Cayenne Pepper
Capsaicin is what makes pepper spicy. While it might be repulsive to some, it’s actually a super nutrient that could help with depression. According to research published by Physiology and Behavior, capsaicin induces an antidepressant effect. Cayenne pepper is one of those pepper vegetables that we should all embrace. Here’s a bаkеd ѕwееt potato wеdgеѕ that could bring out the peppery goodness that we all can enjoy. They’re super еаѕу to mаkе and deliciously spiced tо give аn еxtrа fіеrу kick. Enjoy thеm as раrt оf a mаіn mеаl or аѕ a wonderfully whоlеѕоmе ѕnасk.
5. Chamomile Tea with Honey
Chamomile tea is well known to be a night tea because it helps to relax the nerves and improve sleep quality. Research shows that it has antidepressant properties which is the very reason why we have it listed here. Chamomile tea is the perfect tea to have when you’re stressed, depressed or anxious. It’s good both hot or cold. You can also add extract of mint and vanilla to add a little fragrance to it. Otherwise, just steep the chamomile as normal and add honey to taste.
6. One Pan Honey Lemon Chicken Asparagus
7. Green Tea Lemon Honey
It’s a pretty trendy drink that is very popular in Japan. It’s rapidly being popularized in other countries as well because of its tremendous health benefits in weight loss and more. The catechin content in green tea is the main nutrition that may help lower risk of depression. That’s why it made its way into this list! The green tea lemon honey is a fantastic way that will transform your way in drinking tea. Most people enjoy the hot brewed tea without any addition. But, this variation creates a sweet citrusy goodness that even kids will enjoy!
8. Spicy Rock Crab Curry
Seafood is a great mood booster. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that works wonderfully in reducing inflammation that is associated with depression. Plus, the turmeric in the curry has great benefits to us as it has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, immuno-modulatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective effects. These in all helps with depression. Master this powerful crab recipe and feed those loved ones around you that may be suffering from depression. Watch as their expression changes to the delight of this delicious dish!
9. Peanut Butter Banana Rollups
This popular gym fruit not only makes a perfect pre-workout snack, it is also rich in vitamin B6 which is needed in the production of serotonin. You can have it plain or mix with peanut butter and turn them into a popular kid’s snack. Peanut Butter Banana Roll Ups are one of the healthy snack ideas that are loved by kids as well as adults. Perfect for a quick breakfast, kid’s lunch boxes or as an afternoon bite. They contain 3 very simple ingredients: peanut butter, a banana and tortilla.
10. Low Carb Spinach Salad
This is like the ultimate anti-depression food ever! Spinach is one of the vegetable source for tryptophan and vitamin B complex that makes up the component in production of serotonin. Along side with vitamin C from apple cider vinegar, this meal basically becomes a happy meal! This salad is super simple to make but soo delicious. With spinach, avocado, chicken, bacon and eggs, it only takes a few minutes to prepare. The ingredients (bacon, eggs, chicken) are kid-friendly so it’s not too hard to get away with making this for an easy and healthy weeknight dinner.
11. Breakfast Avocado
Avocado is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and a great source of tryptophan. These are two of the main ingredients that does great in alleviating depression. Avocado itself is a fruit that is rarely eaten just like that because it doesn’t really taste good. Some put them into smoothies, others eat it with condensed milk. Now, you have another new way to eat it! Turn it into a healthy breakfast bowl of savory goodness with egg and bacon! These avocado needs to be excavated a little to make space for the egg. Then, it is topped with cheese, bacon and salt and pepper. Your breakfast morning will never be the same again!
12. Spicy Guava Salad
Guava! A wonderful fruit that boasts a heavy content of vitamin C, even richer than that of oranges. Vitamin C is one of the component that is needed by the body to create serotonin, the happy hormone. Therefore, it’s not enough eating this by itself in a war against depression. This is more like a dessert or just a movie snack. Here’s a new way you can be eating guava – with spice!
13. Honey Lemon Ginger
According to Reader’s Digest, the smell of citrus can help improve one’s mood and reduces stress. Plus, with the rich vitamin C content that it has, it makes one great fruit that one should have in their fight against depression. Besides, the spicy ginger which is popular for its anti-inflammatory effects. This is beneficial for the brain especially when depression can also be linked to the inflammation of the brain. This honey lemon ginger not only taste amazing but also a useful remedy when you have a cold or flu. This recipe basically involves stuffing a jar with lemon, ginger and honey in layers then store it in the fridge. It makes it super easy when you need to enjoy this wonderful goodness. Just put a few spoon of them into a glass and add warm water. Then, sip your way to good health.
14. Walnut Coleslaw
In terms of omega-3 fatty acid content in the vegie world, walnut is ranked one of the highest. Omega-3 fatty acids as we know by now is heck of a one important nutrient that promotes happiness. According to a research done by University of Mexico, people who eat half cup of walnuts everyday for 8 weeks experience a significant improvement in their mood. Hence, there’s no way you could go wrong in having more walnuts in your diet. You can enjoy it candied or the healthier coleslaw version of it! Creamy Walnut Coleslaw Recipe is a surefire winner for all your summer party side dish needs. It’s crunchy and creamy with a tangy coleslaw dressing and so packed with flavor!
15. Garlic Butter Sauteed Clam
These delicious sea treat is a surprising happiness boosting food. It has vitamin C content and also rich in vitamin B12. A lack of vitamin B12 is also linked to depression. Therefore, these clams will get you covered on that! These skillet clams with loads of garlic butter, white wine and parsley. The easiest sauteed clams recipe ever, 15 mins to make!
16. Almond and Pumpkin Seed Florentine
Almond and pumpkin seeds are like little crunch of happiness. They’re an outstanding source of tryptophan and vitamin Bs that helps to promote the production of serotonin. Tryptophan is also beneficial in terms of promoting healthier sleep quality. This florentine recipe is a snack that is simple to prepare and takes only 20 minutes. It mainly consists of florentine mix, pumpkin seed and almond slices. Rather than chewing potato chips, make this your new go-to snack! You won’t regret it!
17. Iced Green Tea with Coconut Water
Coconut water isn’t only delicious, it also has healthy fats that boost better mood. Research shows that young coconut water has antidepressant effects. That’s more reason to have this into your drink menu! Plus, with the powerful green tea, this drink is gonna be life-changing! It’s pretty simple to make this drink as well. First you need to brew some green tea. Then, add some coconut water after it cools. You can also add slices of lemon as garnish.
18. Stuffed Red Peppers
Red peppers is the riper version of green pepper. By letting them ripen up a bit before plucking, their vitamin C content is being boosted to another level. Higher concentration of vitamins can help boost your immune system as well as your mood. With the distinct feature of the bell pepper, this recipe takes advantage of its natural shape by turning them into cute cups of treats! The filling is a combination of lean ground turkey and sausage (or you may leave out the sausage for less calories) with onion, cheese, and Italian spices. Turkey as we know it is rich in tryptophan which also helps to promote good mood!
19. Strawberry Dark Chocolate Bark
Dark chocolate contains flavonols that helps to regulate mood and alleviate depression. It has anti-inflammatory effects that is good for your brain. But not all chocolate are the same. Having high sugar content actually will not help with depression. According to Healthline, sugar actually increases your risk of having depression. So, when we’re hunting for dark chocolate, it should be at least 85% cocoa. Here’s a healthy version of dark chocolate recipe combined with the natural sweetness of strawberries. They’re light, crunchy, delicious and only takes a few minutes to make!
Enjoy more of these mood boosting foods: 10 Super Foods To Boost Your Mood
