Raise your hand if you have ever had a bad day (or days) and said, “I deserve to eat [fill in the blank] or drink [fill in the blank].” Typically, whatever you filled in the blank actually negatively impacts you, especially your mood. With sugar and alcohol, most of us experience a “let down” and, if consumed in the evening, might also disrupt our sleep. With high fat foods, most of us subsequently suffer from indigestion or guilt.

Chew on this. There are actually foods out there that can improve your mood. Thanks to one of my favorite health advocates Dr. Axe, here’s a list of the top “turn the beat around” treats:

• Avocados. Natural hormone balancers, avocados ensure your brain is making the right chemicals needed for keeping it feeling great. Plus, these green goodies help with digestion and are a healthy source of fat.
• Grapes. Packed with antioxidants, especially flavonoids, grapes provide all the benefits of wine minus the alcohol.
• Shiitake mushrooms. Aside from the fact that “shiitake” is a fun word to say and a great alternative to the “S” bomb, these Asian mushrooms are like a ninja punch of nutrients to our gut and packed with vitamin B6.
• Raw nuts. In addition to providing healthy fat to our diet, nuts are full of serotonin, a feel-good chemical that’s in short supply when you’re depressed.
• Salmon. This excellent source of protein is teeming with mood-stabilizing essential fatty acids and, most importantly B12, which has be reported to fight depression.
• Sesame seeds. These little seeds are big into to providing us with tyrosine, an amino acid that boosts the brain’s dopamine levels, kicking the feel-good hormone into high gear, while balancing out other hormones.
• Strawberries. Bright and vibrant, strawberries contain vitamins A and C and manganese which help happy chemicals in your brain.

—Becca Edwards, founder of Female IQ