Louise Hall
May 4, 2008

Feeling blue? Mung beans, lobster, turkey, asparagus, sunflower seeds, cottage cheese, pineapple, tofu, spinach and bananas could lift your spirits.

A diet high in tryptophan – an amino acid converted by the body into the feel-good chemical serotonin – can improve mood and wellbeing, pediatrician and natural health expert Caroline Longmore said.

The body cannot produce tryptophan so unless we get enough through our diets, we may suffer a deficiency, leading to low serotonin levels which are associated with mood disorders, anxiety, cravings and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

“Following a diet which contains foods rich in naturally occurring serotonin will improve your mood, leaving you energised and in a state of harmony and wellbeing,” Dr Longmore said.

Sounds easy, is it? Just eat a bit of lobster and it wouldn’t matter if your hubby is cheating on you. I wonder, is that’s why Victoria chose lobster for her Christmas dinner in a Tesco commercial?
Hmm.
Just get yourself banana, honey.

PS. There is more of that:

Britain’s Food and Mood Project recommends eating chicken, sardines, turkey, salmon, fresh tuna, nuts and seeds to boost serotonin levels. But Associate Professor Michael Baigent, clinical adviser to Beyondblue, said there was only low-level evidence to suggest tryptophans have a medical effect.

They are very careful not to say anything for sure, nevertheless, we sure can try, is it? So grab some food that will make you happy, next time you are shopping. And hmm, I can’t believe I am saying this, but looks like there is a happy life outside the chocolate wrapper.