Abstract

Healthful dietary practises may reduce the risk of numerous diseases and influence mood. Depression is a major public health burden in developed countries which is associated not only with disability but also with mortality risk. Although many foods have been associated with mood -lifting properties, there is still a lack of evidence from controlled intervention studies on this relationship. In this chapter we selected some foods that are recognized for having an influence on the regulation of mood, including tomatoes, purple potatoes and purple sweet potatoes, bananas, nuts and chocolate. The main components responsible for the effects of food on mood were discussed. These compounds include carotenoids, phenolics, folates, tryptofan, omega-3 fatty acids, phenylethylamine and anandamine. The mechanisms of action of these substances are also addressed in view of the actual body of evidence. © 2018 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.