Give Your Mood a Lift

Could your mood use a makeover? Try these powerful ingredients to help support a healthy mood and feel like you.

Ashwagandha
Everyone knows that occasional stress is a major mood killer—and that’s why it’s important to get some stress-relieving supplements on board when trying to maintain a positive mindset. One of the best is ashwagandha, a highly valued adaptogen often used in Ayurvedic medicine. Traditionally used to calm nerves, promote a healthy inflammation response, and support libido, ashwagandha’s mood-boosting benefits come from its special ability to energize and calm at the same time.^*†

In clinical studies, ashwagandha has been shown to support healthy cortisol levels^†† and increase antioxidant activity. People who take ashwagandha report feeling less of the “fight or flight” effects common to occasional stress. Ashwagandha also helps relieve other stress-related symptoms like occasional anxiety. People who take ashwagandha have reported feeling a difference in daily energy, improved focus, healthy sleep, physical endurance, and overall vitality—everything that helps support a better mood.^*

B Vitamins
If low energy levels are contributing to your less-than-stellar mood, you may find support in B vitamins. These important vitamins are well known for their ability to support healthy brain function and maintain mental and physical energy.^*

The B vitamins can be found in many foods, but top sources include meat, seafood, eggs, leafy greens, dairy products, and legumes. However, it’s estimated that up to 30 percent of the total population can’t fully utilize the B vitamins from foods and some supplements, which means that getting the right forms of these nutrients is crucial. For example, you want to get vitamin B6 in the form of pyridoxal-5-phosphate, or P-5-P, which doesn’t require any additional conversion in the liver since it’s already in a form your body can absorb and utilize. Same goes for B12 in methylcobalamin form and folate in methylfolate form. Folate is especially important to mental well-being.^*

Because your body gets rid of excess B vitamins throughout the day, it’s important to replenish them regularly to reap optimal benefits.

Saffron
Saffron is another powerful ingredient you can try to support a healthy mood. A long-trusted botanical with thousands of years of traditional use and modern clinical studies to back it up, saffron is unique in its ability to maintain normal body chemistry. Specifically, saffron has been shown to maintain healthy levels of serotonin, cortisol, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA),^†† support restful sleep, and help maintain a positive state of mind.^*

Omega-3s (With Phospholipids and Peptides)
Your mood is greatly affected by the foods you eat—a happy brain gets plenty of healthy fats. The brain especially loves essential fatty acids (EFAs), like omega-3s, and thrives when they’re present in the body in a healthy ratio. The two most important EFAs are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

The best way to get these essential fatty acids is to eat wild seafood sourced from clean water a few times a week. Since this isn’t always possible, it’s important to take an omega-3 supplement. Skip the fish and krill oils, many of which are low quality, aren’t absorbed well, and are prone to rancidity. Instead, look for a supplement that delivers omega-3s combined with phospholipids and peptides, and extracted from the head of a salmon. (This is important because the body of the fish is where all the toxins are stored. Also, keep in mind that all other fish oils are subjected to high heat and a process of bleaching to eliminate fish oil odors. I don't recommend a fish oil that undergoes this harsh process.)

Phospholipids help your body absorb and use omega-3s efficiently. They also support the myelin sheaths that surround nerve cells. This keeps your brain signals firing properly and supports a stable mood.^*

While it’s normal for everyone to go through periods of occasional stress and anxiety, it’s not healthy to feel this way the majority of the time. If you (or someone you know) is looking for safe and effective ways to improve your mood and mindset, it’s time to hack into happiness with some of these powerful mood boosters.^*

ABOUT | Lynn

Dr. Wagner is into breaking molds. After practicing emergency medicine for 10 years, she began to see a huge gap in the healthcare system. While understanding the need for westernized medicine, she knew that a pill or procedure wasn’t the answer to every problem. After using alternative forms of healing for herself, she wanted to offer the same kind of healing to her patients.

†Occasional inflammation due to exercise or overuse. ††Supports healthy levels already within normal range.