Chamomile Tea But studies show that chamomile tea may be beneficial for helping with depressed mood and anxious feelings [15] [16]. Along with chamomile, many herbal tea blends geared for stress relief also include relaxing herbs and roots like lemon balm, passionflower, valerian, lemongrass, and ashwagandha.
Try walking, playing a team sport or pumping iron at the gym. Diet also plays an important role in maintaining emotional health. Be sure to eat a diet rich in whole grains, lean meats, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts. Interacting with others can also help boost a person's mood.
According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, green tea contains many mood-boosting nutrients including the amino acid L-theanine, which has been linked to reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Green tea has potent antioxidant activities in vivo [3] and may thus confer protection against depression by decreasing oxidative stress [4]. Moreover, green tea catechins have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory actions [5] and to lower depression [6].
Combine sunshine, exercise, and social connections. Go for a 30-minute walk each day with a pet or a supportive relative or friend. Try yoga, meditation, or another relaxation technique to help you de-stress and improve your mood. Time away in nature, like watch- ing a sunset, may help too.
Pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds, along with tree nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pine nuts and pistachios, are high in plant-based proteins, healthy fats and fiber. They also provide tryptophan, an amino acid that produces serotonin, a known mood booster.
Lavender Tea
Just the smell of lavender alone can put your mind at ease. It's been used to treat depression and anxiety as an essential oil and extract, and studies from Germany found it to be as effective as other pharmaceuticals for anxiety and depression without the downside of drowsy side effects.
Chamomile, lavender, rose petals, and lemon balm to help calm you and relieve anger.
The best stress-relieving drinks include ginger, chamomile tea, valerian, black tea, coconut water, milk, green tea, coffee, lemon balm tea, water, and vegetable and fruit juice. Aromatherapy is another self-soothing practice shown to have benefits for mental health. You can read more about it here.
Exercise helps with the symptoms of depression because it increases brain chemicals called endorphins. Even a few minutes a day of mild exercise can improve mood by elevating endorphin levels. When someone is depressed, they often engage in negative thinking.
Drinks like green tea and probiotics help to boost serotonin. Other foods containing Vitamin D are also good because Vitamin D activates tryptophan, which leads to increases in serotonin levels. Good sources of Vitamin D foods include cod liver oil, fortified orange juice, and many types of yogurt.
The study also identified that green tea has a high antioxidant content and can be as effective as coffee in protecting against depression. Green tea contains folate, which may also help with depression. The study linked green tea and coffee consumption to a reduced risk of depression.
And evidence of long-term health benefits is emerging, too: drinking at least 100 millilitres (about half a cup) of green tea a day seems to lower the risk of developing depression and dementia.
Matcha is also very high in l-theanine, a unique compound that reduces stress and helps produce a state of calm and focus. Together, the caffeine and l-theanine present in matcha work to improve cognitive function and clarity, making matcha an ideal tea for aiding studying and boosting brainpower.
Chamomile Tea
Research suggests that long-term use of chamomile can reduce anxiety symptoms [4]. There is some evidence to suggest that chamomile tea may be helpful in managing hyperactive traits of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).