Mood is very influential in our daily lives. A positive mood brings productivity, joy, and happiness to our days, while on the other hand, a negative mood can ruin the day by making you angry, less productive, and just making you generally not feel good. If we want to make the best of our day, it is important to be watchful of our mood.
Our moods can sometimes be controlled by simply using your willpower to make your outlook for the day positive. Unfortunately, this does not happen all the time. For one, external circumstances like loss of a job to bouts of road rage can bring your mood down, but depending on the situation’s gravity, you can still lift yourself up.
However, biology also plays a role in our moods, such as hormonal imbalances and other biological activities that happen in our brains. For this reason, mental willpower alone is not enough.
One way to improve your mood is by changing your lifestyle. A healthy, active, and positive lifestyle often leads to a more happy and positive outlook in life. Another way to improve your mood and your lifestyle is by using some mood supplements to improve your mood and outlook. These supplements can be taken from the food you eat, or it can be consumed synthetically.
In this article, we will list down some of the best supplements for mood that you can use for a more improved and positive outlook.
The Best Mood Supplement Ingredients That You Can Take
1) Curcumin
Curcumin is an active ingredient of turmeric, a well-known spice that is commonly used in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and North African regions.
Curcumin is highly known for being a great antioxidant and anti-inflammation compound. However, it is also considered to have antidepressant effects, hence, a good herb for the mood.
For example, in one study, it is shown that 1g of curcumin has similar effects to Prozac when it comes to improving the mood of people suffering from MDD. However, more research is needed before we can see how curcumin can affect depression and mood.
2) Saffron
Saffron, an herb-spice that is also commonly used in foods and desserts of different culinary cultures (usually in the Middle East), is said to have effects in controlling symptoms of depression. This is based on a review from the year 2018.
3) Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is already known as a medicinal herb as far as back in ancient China. The herb is primarily used for healing a variety of health conditions.
As for the mood, Ginkgo Biloba is shown to have benefits for the brain, such as performance, cognitive functions, and mood. However, research on the area is yet to be improved.
4) Ginseng
Ginseng is another herb that is also used in ancient Chinese medicine for medicinal purposes. Specifically, ancient Chinese medical practitioners actually use ginseng for cognitive purposes, such as mental clarity and stress reduction. Hence, it makes sense why ginseng is used to improve one’s mood.
Today, some people believe that ginseng is the solution for low motivation and energy that often occurs as a symptom of depression, although the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health reminds the public that, so far, the research regarding ginseng’s effect to our cognitive functions are little to form solid health recommendations.
5) Green Tea
Green tea is known in the wellness world for its antioxidant properties and other various health benefits.
When it comes to our mood, green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that can directly affect our brain. Specifically, it can enhance certain neurotransmitters in our brain, including our dopamine. As a result, it can lift our mood and outlook.
Being able to positively affect dopamine production, L-theanine also consequently has an antidepressant effect and can even enhance some of our cognitive functions.
Benefits Of Supplements For Mood
The obvious benefit of mood supplements is that it lifts and enhances your mood, thus giving you a positive outlook for your life. But, as mentioned above, a good mood gives you a variety of benefits such as productivity, optimism, happiness, and joy. At the same time, it spares you from the negative effects of having a low mood, including stress and feeling miserable.
Some mood supplements can also help you in other ways, hence beneficial for your overall health.
Forms Of Mood Supplements
Mood supplements can come in a variety of forms. The first one is the typical pill or capsule form. To take it, simply take your pill mood supplement the way you would take your medicine. Of course, be sure to take note of the proper dosage for you.
Mood supplements can also come in liquid form. The good thing about liquid supplements is that they are more absorbable compared to their pill counterpart.
There are also powder supplements available, though they are so far less common. Powder supplements are usually used the same way you would use protein powder (in fact, some supplements are sold as protein powder, making it 2-in-1).
And finally, you can take these supplements in their original food form – for instance, curcumin from turmeric.
Do Mood Supplements Really Work?
Despite the bad reputation of the supplements industry, mood supplements really work. It’s just that, some supplements are not high quality due to the FDA’s low regulation on the industry.
One way to avoid this is by reading the label and seeing if the ingredients inside are the ones that you are looking for. Looking for trustworthy recommendations is another way to find a reliable supplement.
Basically, mood supplements, as with any other supplements, do work. It just takes time before you can find the one that will work for you.
Are Mood Supplements Right For Me?
Mood supplements can generally be taken by the average person. So, under normal circumstances, mood supplements should be fine for you. However, if you are pregnant or are undergoing a certain medical condition, ask your doctor first before taking any supplementation.
Best Supplements For Mood
New Mood by Onnit ($50)
This supplement blend from Onnit is “great for unwinding after a long day at work, or helping to support a normal daily stress response.” Made with herbs and key vitamins, New Mood promises to help you become more relaxed and at ease.
Genius Joy ($60)
The Genius brand is well known in the supplement industry. Their product lines include a variety of wellness supplements, such as Genius Mushrooms, Genius Sleep Aid, Genius Consciousness, and this supplement – Genius Joy. This supplement is a bit pricier than the others on this list, but it is a very high-quality supplement. It is a hand-picked blend of nootropics, adaptogens, and natural energy boosters to help reduce stress and balance out your mood.
Big Chill by Hum ($20)
Hum is another popular health and wellness brand. Their products include Hum Red Carpet, Hum Air Patrol, Hum Hair Sweet Hair, Hum Nutrition Skinnybird, Hum Flatter Me, and this product – Hum Big Chill. This blend promises to help your mind and body cope with stress as well as enhance your ability to stay calm and focused. Made with adaptogens to help balance adrenals, Big Chill uses the power of herbs to help you reach ultimate relaxation.
Mood-Boosting Probiotic by Lifted ($25)
Made with 30 billion CFU, this supplement is made with Including Bifidobacterium Infantis and Bifidobacterium Longum, which are both mood-boosting strains. The supplement also includes seven more strains (9 various strains total) to ensure healthy digestion, immunity, and mental health.
Emotional Balance by Gaia Herbs ($30)
This mood blend is made with oats, St. Johns Wort, passionflower, Vervain, Schisandra, and Gotu Kola. This blend is moderately priced, excellent quality, and promises a healthy emotional state.
Alternatives To Supplements For Mood
While mood supplements are good for you, you can also use other supplements in order to increase your mood. Many of the main ingredients in supplements are dopamine boosters, so any supplements (or foods) that increase dopamine levels are great for boosting your mood.
Some of these include things like probiotics, Mucuna Pruriens, Ginkgo Biloba, Curcumin, Oregano Oil, and more.
Final Thoughts: Best Supplements For Mood
If you are thinking about adding mood supplements to your diet, now is a great time to try it out. Mood supplements are easy and safe supplements to test that carry a variety of benefits with it. If you start taking mood supplements, and experience any negative symptoms, contact a medical professional for help.
