8 Fall Foods That Boost Our Mood

Even with its gorgeous foliage and festivities, autumn triggers anxiety and depression for many people. The shorter days and lack of sunlight affect our circadian rhythms; we feel the stress of upcoming holidays; and the claustrophobia of winter is lurking around the corner. Mother Nature fortunately has done her part in providing many foods and spices during this season that can aid our sanity. From enjoying some freshly picked apples to munching on some dry pumpkin seeds, autumn is full of good mood foods that can help us to enjoy the season.

1. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are one of mother nature’s most potent mood busters. They are chock full of zinc (containing 23 percent of our daily recommended value in just one ounce), which Emily Dean, M.D., calls an “essential mineral for resiliency” in her Psychology Today blog “Zinc: An Antidepressant.” Zinc increases our ability to fight off inflammation, which can cause depression and anxiety. They are also rich in magnesium, our calming nutrient. According to a study in the journal Neuropharmacology, magnesium deficiencies induce anxiety, which is why the mineral is known as the original chill pill.

2. Squash

Squash is one of my favorite fall foods, and that’s before I knew it was packed full of mood-boosting ingredients. Just one cup of butternut squash contains 15 percent of the daily recommended value of magnesium, 17 percent of potassium, and 18 percent of manganese, all critical minerals to keep you sane. One cup also contains a whopping 52 percent of vitamin C, a helping hand to our immune system and to our entire central nervous system.

3. Cinnamon

Cinnamon has been used as early as 2000 BC in ancient Egypt to treat a host of different health conditions. A study at Wheeling Jesuit University showed that even smelling cinnamon enhanced cognitive performance. It’s especially good for anxiety and depression because it helps regulate blood sugar. The tasty spice also contains a high percentage of manganese. In fact, one teaspoon provides 22 percent of the daily recommended value. Manganese is a critical trace mineral that helps with nerve function and connective tissues—aiding the central nervous system in general. It also plays a role in neutralizing free radicals that can damage cell membranes and DNA.

4. Turkey

If you’re fretting about all the family drama that happens at Thanksgiving, rest assured that the turkey will be helping you stay sane. It is a good source of the amino acid tryptophan, which helps your body produce the feel-good chemical serotonin.

5. Turmeric

I throw the spice turmeric into the category of fall foods, because I start experimenting with it once the weather turns cool. The yellow spice that we eat in different kinds of curry contains a potent natural anti-inflammatory agent, curcumin, that mitigates depression and anxiety. The abstract from a recent study published in Journal of Affective Disorders reads:

Curcumin, the principal curcuminoid derived from the spice turmeric, influences several biological mechanisms associated with major depression, namely those associated with monoaminergic activity, immune-inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative stress pathways, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and neuroprogression. We hypothesised that curcumin would be effective for the treatment of depressive symptoms in individuals with major depressive disorder.

6. Apples

As I mentioned in my blog 10 Foods I Eat Every Day to Beat Depression, apples are high in antioxidants, which can help to prevent and repair oxidation damage and inflammation on the cellular level. They are also full of soluble fiber, which balances blood sugar swings. One of my favorite fall snacks is some almond butter on apple slices. I get my omega-3 fatty acid along with some fiber.

7. Eggplant

In addition to being a good source of fiber, copper, vitamin B1, and manganese, eggplant also contains important phytonutrients, including phenolic compounds and flavonoids, that are potent antioxidants. One study found that anthocyanin phytonutrients in the skin of eggplants, called nasunin, protects brain cell membranes from damage by zapping free radicals and guarding the lipids (fats) in brain cell membranes.

8. Sweet Potato

Just one baked sweet potato provides 214 percent of our daily recommended value of vitamin A, which is an antioxidant superpower, 52 percent of our vitamin C, and 50 percent of our manganese. This healthy starch is also full of copper, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, biotin, and potassium—all very helpful in fighting depression and anxiety. Sweet potatoes contain anthocyanin pigments and other flavonoids that have been shown in studies to have strong anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. According to one study published in the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, “Because of their diverse physiological activities, the consumption of anthocyanins may play a significant role in preventing lifestyle-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular and neurological diseases.”