“Happiness” Shake To Reduce Symptoms Of Depression

Eating healthy is improving your mood . For this reason, there are those who propose to regularly drink a “happiness” shake like the one we will present here. This will help complement the psychological and pharmacological approach to dealing with depression.

First of all, it is necessary to clarify that depression is a very serious disorder and should only be treated with a psychologist or psychiatrist. It cannot be addressed only by eating, but you have to adopt a whole series of good lifestyle habits, apart from going to therapy.

A study carried out at the University of Mysore and the Department of Food Technology Research  indicates healthy nutrition improves mental health.

The role of diet in depression

Eating by itself will not cure these types of psychological disorders, but it could contribute, for example, to improve brain biochemistry so that the patient feels a little better. Now, this does not imply that depression can be treated without the guidance of a professional.

No home remedy can replace the professional’s evaluation, although an adequate diet could add to the indications, especially those that contain certain nutrients.In fact, in an article from Harvard Medical School, it is indicated that  complementing a healthy diet with therapy and personal care it favors psychological well-being.

Happiness smoothie: a mood-boosting supplement

From this space we suggest you discover this ‘happiness’ shake. It is a nutritious and tasty popular recipe with certain elements that could serve to improve that brain chemistry that so often orchestrates in discouragement and low energy.

The importance of increasing the production of serotonin and dopamine

Serotonin and dopamine levels often change in the body for a variety of reasons. Stress, anxiety, and depression are some of them. These two neurotransmitters are what promote well-being and motivation.

To produce serotonin and dopamine, tryptophan is necessary, an essential amino acid linked to the treatment of depression in studies such as one from 2016 published in the journal Nutrients .

Today, as a study by the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Warneford, Oxford reveals, we know that if serotonin levels are increased, coping with depression is more likely.

• The daily or regular consumption of foods that stimulate the production of serotonin contributes to improving mental and physical health and, therefore, preventing depression.

• According to the Harvard Medical School article cited above, it has been shown that a diet with too much fat and sugar can make the person more vulnerable to depressive states.

The good news is that incorporating foods rich in serotonin and essential amino acids like tryptophan reduces the risk of depression and other emotional disorders. Examples of these disorders are stress and anxiety.

This is exactly where the natural smoothie that we will share below comes into play. In addition to being easy to prepare, it provides good amounts of all those nutrients that are needed to help in the treatment of this condition.

How to prepare the “happiness” shake?

This natural drink arises from the combination of ingredients such as banana and spinach, both known for their various beneficial health properties.

Studies, such as one carried out on animals at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan, reveal the purported benefits of the banana in reducing the impact of depression and improving memory.

On the other hand, other research that does apply to humans, such as one published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience , affirms that the serotonin contained in the banana does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, more studies are needed to effectively discover its effects on brain chemistry.

However, to this potential effect of the banana we must add that of spinach, which is included in medical publications as a positive food for this problem. The reason is its content of antioxidants, which fight against free radicals, which are responsible for brain damage.

In addition, this smoothie also contains less ginger, flax oil, and peanut butter. These ingredients increase the feeling of well-being due to the following characteristics:

• Ginger: according to Food Chemistry , it is a food with a significant content of antioxidants, the effects of which were described earlier.
• Flax Oil: The WebMD article cited above talks about the selenium in seeds – including flax seeds – as an important nutrient for maintaining good mood.
• Peanut butter: following what is explained in that same article, it is advisable to eat this food, since it is a natural source of protein, which provides energy and makes the person more alert.

Ingredients

Keep in mind that the following preparation contains a lot of calories. To be sure of its suitability for your particular case, it is recommended that you make a consultation with the nutritionist.

• Banana (1 unit).
• Spinach (1 handful).
• Peanut butter (1 tablespoon or 15 grams).

• Flaxseed oil (1 tablespoon or 14 grams).
• Ginger (1 teaspoon or 5 grams).
• ½ liter of water or vegetable milk.

Preparation

• Peel the banana and cut it into pieces.
• Wash the spinach well and put it in the blender along with the banana.
• Stir in the peanut butter, flaxseed oil, and 1 teaspoon of ginger.
• Add the non-dairy milk or water and process everything  until you get a homogeneous mixture.

Final advice

Remember that to combat depression it is essential to diagnose and develop a treatment by a psychologist or psychiatrist. To what is indicated by the professional, you can add beneficial activities such as doing an exercise routine and consuming those foods that you know are healthy for your body.