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Your mood is largely determined by the food you eat. Eating a nutritious diet can help improve your mood and keep your energy levels stable. However, eating unhealthy foods can have the opposite effect. This article will explore how different types of food can affect your mood, how changing your diet can help improve your mental health, and how combining a healthy diet with TMS treatment can achieve optimal results. 

Healthy foods that can improve your mood include:

1. Complex carbohydrates: These include whole grains, such as oatmeal and brown rice. They help to stabilize blood sugar levels, which can prevent energy crashes and irritability.
2. Lean protein: Protein provides the amino acids that are needed to produce mood-regulating neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine. Good sources of lean protein include chicken, fish, legumes, and tofu.
3. Healthy fats: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain health. They can be found in oily fish, such as salmon, as well as in flaxseed oil and chia seeds.
4. Vitamins and minerals: Deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and vitamin B6, have been linked to mood disorders, such as depression. Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits can help ensure that you're getting all the nutrients you need.
5. Probiotics: These are live bacteria that are found in fermented foods, such as yogurt and sauerkraut. They help to support gut health, which is important for overall health and well-being.

In contrast, there are certain foods that can have a negative effect on your mood. These include:

1. Refined carbohydrates: These are simple carbs that are quickly broken down into sugar. They can cause blood sugar levels to spike and then crash, leading to fatigue and irritability. Examples of refined carbs include white bread, pastries, and candy.
2. Trans fats: These are artificially created fats that are often found in processed foods, such as cookies, crackers, and margarine. They have been linked to an increased risk of mood disorders, such as depression.
3. Caffeine: Caffeine can lead to anxiety and restlessness. It's also a diuretic, which can cause dehydration and fatigue.
4. Alcohol: While alcohol may initially act as a depressant, it is actually a stimulant. This means that it can cause anxiety and insomnia.
5. Sugar: Eating too much sugar can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate, leading to energy crashes and mood swings.

If you're looking to improve your mood, start by eating more of the foods on the first list and less of the foods on the second list. You may also want to consider taking a daily multivitamin to ensure that you're getting all the nutrients you need. Changing your diet can be a challenge, but it's worth it if it helps improve your mood and mental health.

How TMS Can Improve Your Mood With The Right Diet

At Duluth TMS, we provide Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy to people who are struggling with depression. TMS is a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate the brain. This can help to increase levels of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine. In addition to TMS, we also recommend that our patients make healthy dietary changes to improve their mood. Eating a nutritious diet can help to stabilize energy levels and mood. complex carbohydrates, lean protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics can all improve mental health. Conversely, refined carbs, trans fats, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar can have a negative effect on mood.

Learn more about our TMS treatment services by visiting our website or giving us a call today.