In the pursuit of a balanced and happy life, we often overlook the critical importance of nutrition on our emotional well-being . To understand the relationship between food and good mood, it is right to start from the brain where neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine play a crucial role in regulating our emotions, but at the same time it is essential to know that as many as 95% of the first and 50 % of the second are produced directly by the intestine.
Surprisingly, many of these neurotransmitters are also directly influenced by the nutrients we consume through our diet . Some of the main players are strawberries , blueberries and raspberries rich in antioxidants and vitamins that improve mood thanks to their ability to reduce inflammation in the brain. Others like bananas and dried fruit directly provide key pleasure precursors like tryptophan. Closing the list is the well-known dark chocolate , which in addition to being a delight for the palate, stimulates the production of endorphins in the brain, generating sensations of well-being and pleasure.
Pietro Senette – Nutritionist and researcher