Weekly Wellbeing: Feel-Good Foods To Power Your Brain And Boost Your Mood (PICTURES)

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Salmon can protect against depression

There's nothing like some good old comfort food to boost your mood when you're feeling down. Homemade shepherd's pie or bangers and mash can provide an instant warming pick-me-up to banish even the darkest of moods.

But with summer on the horizon, these stodge-tastic dishes can feel a little heavy and the hunt is on for some lighter foods to make you feel good.

Luckily HuffPost Healthy Living have compiled a list of summer-friendly foods that will not only tickle your tastebuds but give your brain some much needed TLC.

Do you think we've missed any? Let us know in the comments below.

7 Foods To Boost Mood

Whole Foods(01 of07)

"Emerging research in the fields of neuroscience and nutrition show that people who eat a diet of modern processed foods have increased levels of depression, anxiety, mood swings, hyperactivity, and a wide variety of other mental and emotional problems," wrote HuffPost blogger and psychiatrist Dr. Drew Ramsey. One way to combat the ill effects of a processed diet is simply to start with a whole, unprocessed one. Cooking one's own meals out of natural ingredients is a good way to take care of the body and the brain. (credit:Alamy)

Salmon(02 of07)

Salmon and other fatty fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA could play a role in overall mood and well-being. Research shows that these fats have a protective effect against depression and in one study helped reduce the anxiety experienced by medical students. Vegetarian sources of omega-3s include walnuts and flaxseed, which are both high in ALA, which the body may partially convert to DHA and EPA, according to a Harvard report.

Clarification: An earlier version of this article stated that walnuts and flaxseeds are direct sources of DHA and EPA.

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Apples(03 of07)

Apples are rich in quercetin, a compound that defends your brain cells from free-radicals that can damage the lining of neurons, CNN reported. (credit:Alamy)

Chocolate (04 of07)

Everyone knows that chocolate is delicious and full of antioxidants. But it can also help to reduce anxiety, according to a 2012 study. In those who suffer from anxiety, milk chocolate was found to help reduce symptoms. For those with no history of anxiety, dark chocolate was most helpful, the study reported. (credit:Alamy)

Walnuts(05 of07)

Walnuts are not only beneficial for your heart by helping with arrhythmias and inflammation in your arteries, but they're also incredibly rich in the neurotransmitter serotonin, which has a strong effect on relaxation and happiness. A Spanish study revealed that people who ate merely a one ounce combination of walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds had more serotonin than people who did not eat any nuts. This suggests that serotonin can be absorbed into the body from food. Many other nuts also work to keep your body healthy. (credit:Squared Sudios via Getty Images)

Healthy Cereal(06 of07)

Cereal contains folic acid, which can lead to a reversal of depression symptoms in those who are deficient in the property, according to Dr. David Mischoulon, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. (credit:Shutterstock)

Soybeans(07 of07)

Another way to increase serotonin production in the brain is to eat foods with high amounts of the amino acid tryptophan. Research suggests that tryptophan is a building block for serotonin. Soybeans have a high amount of tryptophan, meaning they could help improve mood by raising your serotonin levels. (credit:Lauren Burke via Getty Images)

healthy food mood boosters depression Mental Health brain health

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