Researchers for the online health and wellness resource www.Enritsch.com have determined 2017 will be the ‘Year of Happy Food’ after international experts point to a trend of people seeking healthy comfort food options.
“We discovered that while many people have been turning to ‘comforters’ that are typically heavy on starches and fats while others have turned to sugars, they now want healthy alternatives that produce similar results,” said Stefan Ritsch, Managing Director, of the platform Enritsch.com.
“The trend has been highlighted right along the supply chain from manufacturers to retailers to nutrition experts.”
And apparently there are actually foods that can increase our happiness. “Certain foods not only fight free radicals and satiate cravings, but some even produce positive neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that influence mood and facilitate communication between the brain's neurons,” added Stefan. “The good news is, even though brain chemistry sounds complicated, it's easy to add “happy” foods into our nutrition plans!”
Enritsch advises that we can top up with daily doses of happiness by including the following superfoods in our cooking, or seeking them out when eating in restaurants, cafes, bistros or snack bars.
Black Raspberries
These somewhat exotic, black raspberries are the next big thing in the realm of fruits and veggies. When compared to other types of raspberries, and other foods in general, black raspberries are exceedingly high in antioxidants. They also boast anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, they are less bitter than red raspberries!
Walnuts
They're often forgotten in favour of their more flavourful cousins, such as cashews and peanuts, but walnuts may just be the ultimate brain food. Not only do they somewhat resemble a brain, but walnuts are packed with Omega-3s. Regular consumption of Omega-3s has been shown to increase cognitive function and reduce the symptoms of depression. So walnuts truly are a happiness nut.
Rooibos Tea
While the green variety typically gets all the good press when it comes to tea, red rooibos is the clear front-runner for celebrity status in 2017. The amazing tea is said to have a staggering 50 times more antioxidants than its green counterpart.
Tofu
Tofu gets an unfortunate bad rap, most likely due to its consistency and drab colour. But it's packed with protein and more versatile than most people realise. It’s a great addition to a variety of meals because it does a fantastic job of absorbing flavours during cooking or preparation, such as marinades and cooking oils.
As for its happiness factor, tofu doesn't disappoint. We can boost our energy thanks to tofu's high level of protein and large quantity of isoflavones, which may reduce the incidence of age-related mental disorders.
Spinach
According to several studies, folic acid deficiency may contribute to depression. A cup of cooked spinach is packed with about 200 micrograms of folic acid, and fresh spinach contains even more of this essential nutrient, which helps our body process amino acids more efficiently.
Goat Cheese
Another high-protein option, that's low also in fat and super delicious. Lighter in both consistency and calories than its cow's milk counterpart, goat cheese contains an amino acid called tyrosine that produces the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which may facilitate motivation and alertness.
About Enritsch
Enritsch.com is an online platform and marketplace for everything to do with health, beauty and wellness.
Our aim is to enritsch people’s lives by providing people of the world access to free resources to be able to live a happy, inspired and dignified life.
The article was published on 14th of November 2016 in Al Press.
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