7 foods that always make you healthy and happy

have you ever had one of those days where you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed you're cranky grumpy and just plain off the worst part when you're having a lousy day can just seem like nothing it's gonna turn your mood around maybe you try and nap meditation and exercise but still the mood just sticks around well when it comes to lousy moods and possibly even bigger mental health problems there's one thing you may not be considering now I'll tell you more in a minute but first I want to ask you a question are there any health topics you'd like to know more about if so reply in the comments and let me know what you're curious about after all I created this channel for you and I want to make sure you're benefiting from it so if there's anything you want to know go ahead and leave a comment below now let's get back to that lousy mood and the one incredibly effective thing you may not be trying it all comes down to one really interesting scientific phenomenon the gut brain axis now I could talk about the gut brain access all day but for now I'll just explain the quick version to put it simply your gut and your brain actually communicate with one another through your nervous system it's actually a pretty strong two-way communication for example when you're stressed your brain lets your gut know which is why so many people report having a nervous stomach when there's something stressful going on and when your stomach is upset for whatever reason it can actually impact your mood your energy level and even your ability to focus it's no wonder.

 some scientists call your gut your second brain it's got such a profound effect on the way you feel body and mind which is why if you're struggling with a lousy mood my be time to look at your diet and now I'm not just talking about grabbing some carb heavy comfort food though a piece of dark chocolate is scientifically proven to lift your spirits I'm talking about rethinking comfort food and going for options that comfort your gut because when your gut is balanced your mood stays lifted after all some of the most important hormones are produced in the gut like serotonin the feel-good hormone and gaba which helps you manage stress and anxiety in fact gaba is actually produced by your gut bugs clearly keeping your gut happy goes a long way to keeping your spirits lifted though if you're struggling it's also important to seek out help from a mental health care professional so if you've noticed a shift in your mood it's worth looking at your diet and any changes you may have made in your meals start by eating lots of leafy greens resistant starches and healthy fats check out the recipes here on my channel for inspiration then go ahead and add in foods that support your gut brain access well I've already mentioned one it's actually a classic comfort food I'm talking chocolate of course but more specifically bittersweet chocolate at least 72 percent cacao now if you want a full crash course on white chocolate is so amazing for you I just made one and it's right here on my youtube channel but when it comes to your mental health the reason behind eating chocolate is simple and yes it's scientifically proven you see when you eat a bit of chocolate it tells your brain to release endorphins feel-good chemicals designed to help you manage stress and feel fantastic each day and chocolates not the only food on the plant paradox plan that's shown to boost these endorphins walnuts sesame seeds ginger and even strawberries when they're in season of course all have an indoor and promoting effect and if you want to boost serotonin try wild-caught salmon omega-3 eggs Parmesan cheese and almonds bonus all of those foods are loaded with healthy fats do to keep your body fueled up full and happy now there's one other thing you should be considering and that's melatonin among other things it's responsible for you getting a good night's sleep.

 which maybe you've noticed is essential for keeping your mood boosted and your anxiety levels low and there are certain foods that are just fantastic for supporting melatonin production and if it's in the middle of the summer your best bet is fresh cherries just remember cherries are certainly a fruit and should only be eaten mid summer in moderation so what melatonin boosting foods should you eat the rest of the year when cherries are Nancy's or if you're just avoiding fruit start with eating mushrooms at least once a day as many as you'd like and if you're a fan of eggs they're pretty rich in melatonin on top of all there are other wonderful properties also go ahead and season your food with whole grain Dijon mustard mustard seeds are an incredible source of melatonin now don't worry you don't have to cram all those melatonin and rich foods into dinner time either eating them throughout the day will have a great impact at bedtime and one more thing as well as supporting your feel-good hormones it's important to feed the probiotic bacteria that live in your gut your gut buddies as I like to call them that means making sure to eat foods that are high in resistant starches like green bananas sweet potatoes and rice that's some pressure cooked then cooled that way you can be certain your gut buddies are working for your gut and for your mental health too of course like I said if you're seriously struggling with your mental health it's essential that you seek out from someone you trust whether it's a doctor a therapist or someone else and remember when it comes to your health your mental wellness is just as important as your physical health after all they're closely connected so if you're struggling with your mental state it's really worth evaluating your diet and giving that gut brain access a little kickstart yes that means you should go ahead and have that piece of chocolate just make sure it's bittersweet because I'm doctor Gundry and I'm always looking out for you