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August 24, 2011

New Study: Fatty Foods Can Improve Your Mood

Research shows it's the fatty acids in food that enhance a person's mood.

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If you're a fan of eating burgers and fries when you're feeling down, you might want to take a look at this. According to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, fatty acids in food elevate people's moods regardless of how the dishes taste, look, or smell.

Researchers from the University of Lueven in Belgium injected 12 healthy participants with either fatty acid solutions or saline infusions. The volunteers were subjected to sad or neutral images and music and were asked about how they felt. Their brains were also mapped with MRI scan. The results of the tests showed that those who got the fatty acids felt less sad compared to the others who got the saline infusions.

If you want to stay healthy, however, avoid emotional eating and don't resort to grabbing the nearest fatty food for an instant mood boost. Independent.co.uk cites previous research conducted by the University of Buffalo, which says each person's own brand of comfort food reminds them of their loved ones, thus helping them elevate their mood. Try reinventing or incorporating elements from your favorite comfort food in a much healthier dish. If you're a fan of potato-based foods, for example, skip the deep-fried dishes and look at healthy yet tasty recipes like potato torte. You can also try foods that contain essential fatty acids (AKA healthy fats) like cold water fish and almond nuts.

Need comfort food but don't want to be unhealthy? Try these healthy but delicious recipes:

(Photo by Robert S. Donovan via Flickr Creative Commons)

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