This Is A Neuroscientist's Go-To Salad For A Positive Mood (Really!)

Plus, this is by no means a boring, sad salad. On the mindbodygreen podcast, Amen touts a dense, colorful bowl of veggies specifically chosen for their mood-enhancing benefits. Here, we break down his daily recipe. 

Every great salad starts with a solid base, and for brain health, we highly recommend filling your bowl with dark, leafy greens (like spinach, kale, arugula, or any of the greens listed here). Each of these is rich in lutein and beta-carotene, which come with some brain-supporting benefits. In fact, one study found that out of 960 participants, those who ate at least one serving of leafy green vegetables per day had brains that were operating 11 years younger than they actually were, compared to those who rarely ate those greens. The researchers propose it's the high content of antioxidants (like lutein, beta-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol [aka, vitamin E]) that makes these greens so brain-healthy. 

That said, add a serving of wild-caught salmon to your brain-healthy salad or sprinkle some chopped walnuts or pumpkin seeds for some added crunch, then top it all off with a drizzle of olive oil. "Putting it on your salads can be just so healing and helpful," he notes. 

Believe it or not, the right foods can lighten your mood long term. Try Amen's recipe brimming with brain-healthy antioxidants and healthy fats, and you can quite literally fuel your brain with positivity.