

Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to Marie Claire. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Pretty much the only thing we have in common with Christian Grey is a preference for exercising control in all things—that and an appreciation for Edward Ruscha—which is why the idea of using food to change your mood sounds so scientific and Übermensch-y (Überfrauen-y?) and just plain cool.
In the pursuit of self-improvement and, you know, feeling better, we've assembled a list of healthy-ish foods and their emotional effects below. Seek bad-day bonbons elsewhere—though there are definitely times when those work too.
Mashed potatoes
Spuds contain the chemical chromium, which raises the brain's serotonin levels. (Serotonin = happy-making.)
Avocado
Besides being creamy and ridiculously tasty, avocado is a good source of fatigue-reducing folate, aka folic acid.
Almonds
There's a reason why magnesium, which these nuts have in spades, has been used to treat depression for 100 years. The omega-3 essential fatty acids in walnuts will do the trick too.
Watermelon
The answer here is potassium, a mineral that helps keep blood pressure capped. (Bonus: The dietary fiber buys you some alone time in the bathroom, if you know what I mean.)
Oranges
Vitamin C has been proven to help people handle stressful situations, such as math tests and public speaking, better. Their tough skins mean they won't get smushed in your purse either and make everything even worse. Similar options: blueberries, strawberries, pretty much any berry.
Asparagus
Calming Vitamin B will keep you cool enough to plot your next move/revenge.
Kiwis
Weird, right? It's that serotonin again, which has been shown in studies to improve sleep quality and duration. Eat it this way for the maximum benefit.
Cereal
Grains trigger insulin production, which raises your blood sugar naturally. Also try: oatmeal, jasmine rice, whole-grain bread.
(Night) Cheese
Follow Liz Lemon's lead and have a few ounces of cheddar before bed: Calcium helps the brain use the tryptophan found in dairy to manufacture sleep-inducing melatonin.
You should also check out:
11 Seemingly Unhealthy Foods That Aren't So Bad for You
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at MarieClaire.com. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.
-
Taylor Swift is at Travis Kelce’s Chiefs Game in Kansas City—With His Mom, Donna
Well, that clears that up.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Literally Face the Same Woe as Every Other Parent
They may be royalty, but kids are kids.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Expert Says of Princess Kate’s Recent Transformation That “We Are Seeing the Real Kate Now”
Her revved up charisma matches that of a beloved royal family member that was anything but self-conscious.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Senator Klobuchar: "Early Detection Saves Lives. It Saved Mine"
Senator and breast cancer survivor Amy Klobuchar is encouraging women not to put off preventative care any longer.
By Senator Amy Klobuchar
-
How Being a Plus-Size Nude Model Made Me Finally Love My Body
I'm plus size, but after I decided to pose nude for photos, I suddenly felt more body positive.
By Kelly Burch
-
I'm an Egg Donor. Why Was It So Difficult for Me to Tell People That?
Much like abortion, surrogacy, and IVF, becoming an egg donor was a reproductive choice that felt unfit for society’s standards of womanhood.
By Lauryn Chamberlain
-
The 20 Best Probiotics to Keep Your Gut in Check
Gut health = wealth.
By Julia Marzovilla
-
Simone Biles Is Out of the Team Final at the Tokyo Olympics
She withdrew from the event due to a medical issue, according to USA Gymnastics.
By Rachel Epstein
-
The Truth About Thigh Gaps
We're going to need you to stop right there.
By Kenny Thapoung
-
3 Women On What It’s Like Living With An “Invisible” Condition
Despite having no outward signs, they can be brutal on the body and the mind. Here’s how each woman deals with having illnesses others often don’t understand.
By Emily Shiffer
-
The High Price of Living With Chronic Pain
Three women open up about how their conditions impact their bodies—and their wallets.
By Alice Oglethorpe