by Grace Mirchandani

Created on: February 16, 2009   Last Updated: May 18, 2010

Oh, Bliss! That steaming bowl of delicious oatmeal is beckoning you. Go ahead and pile on a handful of those plump and juicy blueberries. Pour on a stream of creamy whole milk. Sit down and enjoy the flavors and aromas this delectable breakfast has to offer you. This breakfast just might do more than satisfy a hunger or craving.

It just might make you a little bit happier, too! How is that, you may ask? It's actually quite simple.

Serotonin is a hormone that, when release by your brain, has the power to make you feel emotionally stronger. Good old oatmeal contains amino acids that help aid in the release of this powerful mood elevator. It will also help keep your bowel habits in check and we all know that constipation is a recipe for crankiness!

The blueberries in your bowl support getting rid of free-radicals in the blood with their powerful antioxidants. Free-radicals are a product of stress (we all have it) and too many can wreak havoc on your body! This makes blueberries a truly an amazing fruit.

As for the stream of creamy whole milk your body needs Vitamin D and most people are not getting enough of it these days. The best source of this vitamin in the sun but with our culture's faced-paced and busy lifestyle, most of us do not get the recommended fifteen minutes of sunlight a day. In northern climates that have shorter days and long winters, many people suffer from Seasonal Affect Disorder.

In a nutshell, this disorder is temporary (seasonal) depression caused by a lack of sunshine! Vitamin D has been shown to improve depression in those suffering from Seasonal Affect Disorder.

Speaking of vitamins, Vitamin B has a very important role in our body's depression defenses. Studies suggest that eating foods that are rich in B Vitamins can help you feel more mentally and emotionally balanced and may also give you a bit more energy! Different forms of Vitamin B can be found in foods like spinach, avocado, meets, beans, sweet potatoes and bananas.

There are so many beneficial foods available to us to help us keep depression at bay! In what seems like an ocean of good food choices, let us not ignore the Salmon. Salmon contains healthy amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Big deal? Yes, big deal. Research shows that the specific omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon can help send depression out to sea. Bon Voyage!

Is salmon not your thing? No problem! Those omega-3 fatty acids can be found elsewhere. In the fish world it can be found in tuna, sardines, and anchovies.

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>