You are not alone if you are experiencing fatigue and sluggishness this week due to the time change. According to research, advancing the clocks by even a single hour can have a disastrous impact on your health. In reality, according to Healthline, there is an increase in heart attacks, suicides, car accidents, and injuries sustained at work after the implementation of daylight saving time. Your body may need several days to adjust to this artificial time change, according to experts. But, you may speed up the process by consuming specific foods that might improve your mood and general wellbeing. Many research conducted over the years have revealed that choosing healthier diets high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may help reduce the symptoms of depression. According to Medical News Today, a 2022 study discovered that transitioning to a Mediterranean diet helps men between the ages of 18 and 25 deal with their depressed symptoms. According to Najaf Amin, a senior research associate in the Nuffield Department of Public Health at the University of Oxford in the U.K., by altering the gut microbiome, we can positively affect the communication between the gut and the brain. According to a study Amin and her colleagues did last year, an increase in depressive symptoms seems to be associated with the number of particular bacteria in the gut. According to her, eating a healthy, diverse diet can support the gut's bacterial equilibrium.
Here are some further recommendations that help improve your mood and energy levels:
- Take a magnesium dietary supplement. According to Amin, this potent mineral can aid in the fight against oxidative stress, which can contribute to depression.
- Your diet should be varied. The Happy Diet author Rachel Kelly advises consumers to purchase six different varieties of beans at the grocery store rather than just one type.
- Boost your probiotic intake. The bacterial variety in the gut can be improved by eating prebiotic foods like leafy greens and fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir. The fermentation process produces probiotics. These active microbes may raise serotonin levels and aid in the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut. As your gut produces 90% of the serotonin in your body, a healthy stomach may improve your mood.
- Consume more omega-3-rich meals. Walnuts and oily fish like salmon, sardines, and tuna can both reduce inflammation in the body, which can assist with the symptoms of sadness.
- Savor some dark chocolate. According to experts, chocolate contains a variety of mood-improving substances, such as caffeine, theobromine, and N-acylethanolamine, a chemical related to cannabinoids that has been associated with increased mood.
- Go berserk. The strong vitamin B6 content of bananas may cause your frown to disappear. This crucial vitamin aids in the synthesis of feel-good neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine. Sugar is released slowly into the bloodstream when consumed with fiber (such as in bananas and bran cereal or oats), resulting in more stable blood sugar levels and improved mood regulation. Too low blood sugar levels might cause irritation and mood changes.