Calm and Clarity in Mood Boosters

Do you ever wish you could make time stop for a few minutes so you could just relax and breathe? In today’s fast-paced society, it’s easy for stress and anxiety to rob us of our peace and serenity. But too much anxiety is more than just a mood-killer. It can also cause physical symptoms such as chronic fatigue, depression, and susceptibility to illness and disease.

Fortunately, mood boosters may be the key to unlocking greater calm and clarity in your life. Here’s what you should know about mood boosters such as Herpower, how they work, and how to tell if you could use one to help you study, perform better at work, or simply find greater happiness in life.

Mood boosters improve the way we feel. Any supplement, drug, food, or activity that helps improve mental health and serotonin levels in the brain while minimizing feelings of stress and anxiety is a mood booster. The foods we eat and the activities we participate in have a profound impact on our brains and stress levels.

If we want to have a better mood consistently, it’s important to consume things and do things that stimulate the release of endorphins (also known as our body’s “feel-good” hormones). We’ll talk about specific ways to promote a positive mood a little later in this guide.

If you frequently feel like your mood is spiraling downward into depression, anxiety, or irritation, you could probably benefit from a mood stabilizer product. Such products are formulated with ingredients that boost brain health and help combat mood swings.

Some mood stabilizers can also promote healthy blood sugar levels. Since rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar levels can lead to depressive symptoms and mood swings, it’s in your best interest to prevent this from happening. Keeping blood sugar balanced can help promote feelings of well-being and keep energy levels steady throughout the day.

There are many ways to naturally boost your mood. Here are a few techniques you may want to try today.

• Consume more vitamins (especially vitamin D and B vitamins like vitamin B6 and vitamin B12).
• Try meditation the next time you feel depression creeping in.
• Diffuse essential oils in your home and/or office (Ylang Ylang, sage, basil, and grapefruit oils are particularly effective as natural mood boosters).
• Spend at least 10 minutes in natural sunlight daily.
• Take omega 3 fatty acids in capsules (fish oil doesn’t have the best flavor, so you’ll appreciate the fact that you won’t have to taste it!)
• Balance your blood sugar by avoiding skipping meals or eating sugary snacks that can increase stress hormones.
• Consume amino acids such as those found in Herpower. These amino acids are the building blocks of protein and they help support neurotransmitters in the brain that improve mood.
• Improve gut health by taking probiotics in supplement form or drink form (kombucha is a great choice). The health of your gut is closely tied to the health of your brain.
• Get more sleep at night. Sleep deprivation is a common underlying cause of depression, anxiety, and inability to handle stress.
• Exercise every day. Just 30 minutes of daily exercise can boost serotonin levels and dopamine, which are two important mood-boosting hormones.

You should also try to eat foods that support feelings of well-being and happiness. Since the list of mood-boosting foods is long, we’ll create a section just for them.

Some foods contain components that are very good for brain health. If you have a family history of depression or other mood disorder, try rotating some of these mood boosting foods into your weekly meal plans.

• Salmon: The reason salmon is such a great food choice for enhancing your mood is because it contains a lot of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory and are essential for the development and proper function of the brain and nervous system. Salmon also contains a lot of protein, vitamin D, and Vitamin B12. These are all very important nutrients, and vitamin D deficiency has been linked to depression.

• Turkey: Who doesn’t love the mild, pleasant taste of turkey? It’s a favorite Thanksgiving staple for a good reason! In addition to tasting amazing, turkey also contains tryptophan, which is an important amino acid that boosts the production of the brain chemical serotonin. People with low levels of tryptophan in their bodies are more likely to experience feelings of anxiety or depression. Turkey is also a rockstar ingredient because it contains another amino acid-tyrosine-that is a brain neurotransmitter precursor.

• Dark leafy greens: You probably already know that dark leafy greens are bursting with healthy nutrients that your body needs to thrive. But did you know that their fiber content helps to balance blood sugar (which in turn balances mood)? Dark leafy greens are also rich in iron, which can help control emotional behavior and support neurotransmitter function. Leafy greens can be prepared in a variety of ways. Try sautéing them with salt, pepper, and lemon juice or tossing a handful in the blender with some fruit to make a mood-boosting smoothie.

• Eggs: Who doesn’t love a good omelet in the morning? It turns out that eggs are some of the healthiest foods for your brain. They’re high in vitamin D and vitamin B12, and they also contain a lot of protein. But one of the best things about eggs is that they contain choline, which is commonly combined with nootropic (brain enhancing) supplements and helps produce neurotransmitters. So eat up! If you get tired of eating your eggs scrambled, try them hard-boiled, poached and placed on toast, or mixed in a stir-fry with steamed veggies.

• Avocado: With its buttery-smooth goodness, avocado is an exceptional food for enhancing brain function and mood. It’s full of fiber, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and vitamin B5. The last ingredient in the list helps support the adrenal glands and synthesize neurotransmitters.

• Fermented foods: There is so much research showing the link between gut health and brain health. Fermented foods contain probiotics and can help you build a healthy gut microbiome, which can in turn help you experience greater health and happiness. One study even shows that probiotic foods can help reduce depression and anxiety. So add more sauerkraut and dairy-free yogurt to your diet and feel the difference in your mood.

• Chia: Remember the days when chia pets were popular? While those might have turned out to be a flop, chia itself is still as useful as ever. Chia seeds contain a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, which we’ve already discussed a little in this guide. Chia seeds also have a lot of protein, calcium, fiber, and iron, as well as good levels of magnesium. Magnesium is one of Mother Nature’s most effective relaxing minerals, and it can promote good sleep as well as a good mood. Add a spoonful of chia seeds to your daily smoothies or mix it in a pudding to enjoy its calming benefits.

• Sardines: Sardines have a bad reputation (if you’ve ever caught a whiff of them, you already know why). They may not smell great, but they contain unbelievably high levels of vitamin B12 and other mood-boosting components such as selenium, omega-3s, vitamin D, and choline. Plus, when you prepare them right, they taste surprisingly good! Try chopping them up and adding them to a stir-fry, or simply dice them and “hide” them in your favorite meals so you get all the benefits without the obvious taste.

• Almonds: If you’re a fan of almonds, you’ll love the fact that eating them can help you boost your brain power (so munch on a handful right before you study or take a test). Almonds contain a lot of fiber, magnesium, protein, and vitamin E. These nutrients can improve memory and cognition.

• Chocolate: Were you relieved to see chocolate on the list of ingredients that are good for your mood? Chocolate is sometimes demonized in the health and wellness community, but it can actually make you happy! Chocolate contains phenylethylamine and anandamide, which boost endorphins and improve cognition. It is important to note that the benefits of chocolate are most pronounced when it is eaten mindfully, so don’t go crazy! Just enjoy a little piece at a time and you’ll be in good shape.

Take a look at the ingredients listed above. How many of them do you include in your normal diet? If you get plenty of chocolate but not enough of the other ingredients, make a change today. Improve your diet and you’ll start to notice a difference in the way you feel going forward.

We’ve skimmed over how some vitamins can improve your mood, but let’s dive a little deeper into why some vitamins are so good for helping you feel happy and focused.

B vitamins have long been linked to improved brain health, nervous system function, and mood. Research shows that deficiencies in vitamins B6 and B12 are associated with mood problems, increased risk of depression, and irritability. For those of us who consistently struggle with mood problems, increasing our consumption of B vitamins may help us gain greater control over our mood swings.

Vitamin D is also known as the sunshine vitamin because our skin needs exposure to sunlight to create it. But research shows that many adults are deficient in vitamin D without even knowing it. Since vitamin D plays such an important role in brain development, cognitive function, and healthy mood maintenance, it’s important to supplement it into your diet if you’re deficient. Vitamin D is also essential for optimal immune health. When you feel well, you’re more likely to feel happy and think positive thoughts consistently.

Vitamin E is another nutrient that’s very important to brain health. It’s a potent antioxidant that can help neutralize free radicals and boost your immune system. Deficiencies in vitamin E can potentially lead to mood disorders including anxiety and depression.

Anxiety is closely related to other mood disorders. Women are twice as likely as men to experience anxiety, and it often goes hand-in-hand with depression. If you want to combat your depression, you may want to start by getting your anxiety symptoms under control. Here are a few natural ways to combat anxiety.

• Eat a balanced diet.
• Limit alcohol and caffeine consumption.
• Take supplements that contain magnesium, mood-boosting amino acids, and inositol.
• Engage in regular exercise or other types of physical activity (even cleaning the house is considered physical activity and can help calm your mind).
• Connect with other people who have learned how to deal with anxiety.
• Take up meditation and use meditative techniques to calm down anytime you start to feel anxious.
• Try drinking herbal tea or using herbal essential oils known to promote feelings of well-being and relaxation (roman chamomile and lavender are two great options).
• Get sufficient sleep at night.
• Say “no” when you don’t have the energy or mental health to take on new responsibilities.
• Get out and enjoy a night on the town or a nice lunch out with friends.
• Try volunteering for your community or serving your neighbors.

These are all great ways to lift yourself out of a funk and ease your anxious feelings. Some may work better for you than others, so give them all a try and keep track of your favorite anxiety-relieving solutions.

We’ve talked about a lot of things that can help boost your mood, but what about the people you hang out with? Can they impact your mood? The answer to that question is a very enthusiastic “yes!”

Just as some people can influence you in negative ways and cause you to feel more anxious and depressed than you were before, other people can make you happy. Stick to people who are positive, energetic, and caring. They’ll help you feel better about yourself and life in general. Socializing with good, positive people is one of the most effective ways to improve your mood and regain your excitement for life.

Your mood-booster person may be a childhood friend, a new friend, a co-worker, or a family member. Your own spouse might be the best mood-booster you’ll ever have in your life. Once you find that person who helps you feel happy and motivated, do everything you can to return the favor by being their mood-boosting person, too.

When you’re feeling depressed, it’s common to want to veg on the couch all day or never get out of bed in the morning. But these are the worst things you can do for your mental health. When you’re feeling down and you don’t have energy, it’s important to force yourself to get up, get active, and be productive.

Physical activity helps with depression in several different ways. It releases endorphins that help improve your mood, it helps you feel better about yourself because you’re getting things done, and it increases blood flow to your brain. You’ll probably notice that once you get up and start moving, you feel an immediate uptick in your mood.

Mood swings in women are more common than mood swings in men. A lot of it has to do with our hormones and how they’re constantly fluctuating throughout the month. But some mood swings are a direct result of serious mood disorders that may require professional help. Here are some common mood disorders women experience, how to recognize them, and how to get help.

• Major depression (including seasonal affective disorder)
• Bipolar disorder
• Dysthymia (chronic depression that lasts longer than two years)

Major depression affects approximately 20% of women at some point in their lives. We’re more likely to experience it due to reproductive-related hormonal changes. Bipolar disorder is less common and only affects less than 1% of adults. This disorder typically causes alternating periods of depression and mania. Dysthymia is also less common than major depression and may lead to suicidal thoughts.

If you think you may have one of these mood disorders, here are some of the symptoms that frequently accompany them:

• Noticeable changes in weight or appetite
• An ongoing anxious or sad mood
• Difficulty concentrating
• Hostility, irritability, or aggression
• Changes in sleep patterns

If you experience any of these symptoms every once in a while, you probably don’t have much to worry about. But if the symptoms are consistent and intense, it may be time to get help. Talk to your primary care provider to see what you can do to treat your condition. You may be prescribed medication or be invited to make lifestyle changes for your mental health.

If you’re tired of feeling down or anxious all the time, there is a supplement that can help. Herpower by Mixhers is a delicious mood-boosting supplement that contains amino acids and other ingredients shown to boost cognition and mental performance. Taking just one packet each day may help improve your quality of life and your sense of well-being.

For more cutting-edge advice on how to live your best life, visit our Mixhers resources page and learn more about our incredible products formulated by females, for females.