What if you discovered that the best place to begin your personal
pursuit of happiness is at the end of your fork? Well, prepare to polish
your silverware. Emerging research from the fields of neuroscience and
nutrition shows that by changing what you eat, you can stabilize your
mood, improve your focus, and boost your brain health, all while trimming your tummy.
We call this way of eating the Happiness Diet. And fear not: It's not
all carrot sticks and raw broccoli. It includes foods that are rich in
nutrients like vitamins A, B12, D, and E, and folate, iodine, magnesium,
calcium, iron, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids—your Essential Elements
of Happiness.
Food is directly linked to three areas of brain function that create
your "happiness ability." The first is your capacity to focus, think,
plan, and remember (we call them "foods for thought"). The second is
emotional regulation ("foods for good mood"). And third are foods that
give you the ability to power through a deadline and control anxiety
("foods for energy").
