It’s nearly that time of year. You know, when folks start blaming the turkey for putting them in the mood for their after-dinner naps.
And it’s true tryptophan is indeed a precursor for serotonin. So, technically, it could lead to drowsiness.
But, spoiler alert: You could eat the whole bird and not get enough of the amino acid to actually make a difference in your sleep.
The REAL reason people knock out after a big holiday feast? Overeating.
However, there may be another way to change the mood around the dinner table with a single dish. But instead of the turkey, it’s a side dish that often gets overlooked, which earns the credit.
This dish isn’t exactly a centerpiece when it makes the cut at those big Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. But maybe it should be.
Because new research reveals, this delicious side has the potential to put everyone at your table into a better mood.
Happiness is a warm side dish
Most holiday sides are carb-heavy dishes.
There are the always popular mashed potatoes, of course. But depending on your own family traditions, scalloped, sweet, roasted, and baked potatoes could all make an appearance too. Then we have the mac and cheese, dinner rolls, cornbread, and, of course, stuffing.
I feel sleepy just THINKING about it. But this year, let’s take those sides in a different direction by offering a non-carb option. Let’s add some mushrooms to the mix.
But don’t just confine them to those big holiday meals. Make mushrooms a regular menu item. Because the latest research finds these fantastic fungi may hold the key to a better mood, less anxiety, and even a lower risk of depression.
Not bad for one of the cheapest and most unassuming items in the supermarket.
The new study finds you don’t even have to eat mushrooms every day or gobble them down by the bushel to move the dial on your mood. You just need to add them to your meals a little more often than you probably do right now.
2 keys to mushroom’s mood benefits
According to Penn State researchers, mushrooms contain two compounds that can play a critical role in your mood.
Ergothioneine: This little-known amino acid is an antioxidant that can protect critical brain cells from oxidative stress. This, in turn, could cut your odds of depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
Potassium: When it comes to minerals, potassium is about as basic as you can get. Yet, many folks still fall short on this necessary nutrient. In fact, one in five hospitalized patients show signs of low potassium. And about 20 percent of folks with mood disorders are deficient.
That can lead to a variety of health issues, from heart problems to muscle complaints. But another common symptom of low potassium is mood issues. In fact, the anxiety and mental fatigue many of us battle from time to time may, in part, be traced back to low levels of the mineral.
The solution, however, is simple. White button mushrooms are rich in potassium. So eating them more often can help prevent hypokalemia and its associated side effects, including those mood issues.
The study also finds that some mushrooms, such as lion’s mane, could even help stimulate the nerve factors that help critical brain cells to grow.
I like mushrooms enough that I eat them several times a week already. But you don’t have to go quite that far if you’re not as big a fan as I am.
The study finds even a moderate mushroom habit will do the trick. So just work them into your menu here and there, then sit back and enjoy the mood boost.
But mood lifting isn’t the only benefit eating more mushrooms can bring to the table. An earlier study linked mushrooms to a 52 percent lower risk for cognitive decline.
Check out my earlier report here for all the incredible details.
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