No one likes it when a cook or a diner is unhappy, but there may be a way to use food to lower stress levels. The Huffington Post wrote an article about six foods that can make you happier. Do they work? Let’s see what they thought:
Probiotic foods
Scientists are discovering that the bacteria in your gut can actually have a profound effect on your mood. The right probiotic food can actually lower aggressive thoughts and obsessive thinking. The best way to eat more probiotic foods is to eat healthy fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir.
Fruits and vegetables
The old standbys for healthy eating. It’s no wonder they help with mood as well. Researchers found that eating more fruits and vegetables brings more energy, calm, and a greater sense of happiness, especially if you eat seven or more servings a day. Perhaps we really need all those vitamins!
Coffee
While some may not like the bitter, we all know people who are just plain grumpy until they’ve had their first cup. Regular moderate consumption of coffee gave people higher energy levels, and it made them more kind and happy as well. People who drink 2-3 cups of coffee per day are 15% less likely to develop depression.
Dark chocolate
You may know of theobromine, which gives people a chocolate high, but the magnesium may be even more important for regulating mood. People who ate an ounce and a half of dark chocolate daily for two weeks had a much lower level of stress hormones.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a way to get nutrients that are very hard to get otherwise. Mushrooms are a natural source of vitamin D, which we normally get through sunlight exposure on our skin. They also have many of the trace minerals we need. People with low levels of selenium (a trace mineral) are at risk for depression, anxiety, and fatigue.
Green Tea
Finally, drinking a lot of green tea can have a significant effect on mood. A Japanese study showed that people who drank five cups a day had 20% lower levels of psychological stress than those who drank less than one, even when controlling other factors.
What does this mean for your restaurant? Sautee more vegetables, put dark chocolate on the menu, and push those mushroom dishes. Your diners will be happier for it.
