Five mental health foods

The immense impact diet can have on every aspect of our well being is still coming to light. Here are five foods that can improve your mental health.

Spinach to improve your mood

Dark green vegetables such as spinach have a high folate content – a substance that has a key role in the production of happy chemical serotonin. Opt for fresh spinach over Popeye’s favoured tinned variety – the nutritional value of the vegetable drops when processed and canned.

Tuna for a memory boost

According to the Mental Health Foundation in the UK, poor memory can be improved by increasing your intake of Omega 3 fatty acids. While these are found in a range of foods including nuts and seeds, you can get a major boost and a tiny cost by tucking into a helping of tuna.

Peanut butter to fend off Alzheimer’s

According to scientists at Rush University Medical Centre in the US, you can decrease your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 44 per cent if you put away 22mg of the gloopy brown spread.

Cassis tea to fight Parkinson’s

A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that you can help avoid Parkinson’s disease by switching from the staple black tea and moving over to something more fruity. Cassis tea, which is made from our roadside ally the blackberry, leads the way, according to the study.

Canola oil to fight depression

A number of studies have found that people who suffer from depression record depleted levels of vitamin E. Canola oil, a healthier alternative to vegitable or corn oil, is rich in the vitamin and can help restore your mood.