#MY SEROTONIN BOOSTER GOOD TIME BOYS I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

[stormyoceans]

IS DR JIMMY 'I DON'T ENJOY SKINSHIP' JITARAPHOL POTIWIHOK IN THE ROOM WITH US RN

[wheeboo]

OMG YAAAY !! proud of u for getting your much needed sleep 🤭 ( says while on 5hrs of sleep )

my day is going well !! got some studying in after lots n lots of procrastination ☹️🙏🏻 BTWWW i just started watching nana tour and it fills my heart with so much happiness 😭😭 just seeing the boys :(( the show is soo unfiltered and if makes my heart swell up seeing them <3 our svt are genuinely the best boys to ever exist 🫶🏼

have you heard jelly pop from bp999 ? it's soo fun :3 + how's YOUR day been miss rania 🫵🏻 ily !

- yuyu 🎀

HI MY LOVE I MISSED YOU ^^^ i swear i was considering posting "i miss yuyu anon :(" post LMAO haha but thank you !! it was only around 6-7 hours but hey its something 😭 and no help 5 hours omg its fr the night owl in us (unless you're a morning person 😔). during high school i only got like 3-5 hours of sleep each day shh 😭😭

aaaa that's good!! i also procrastinated a lot today lmao i literally woke up, ate a lil breakfast, then took a fat ass nap. then i played minecraft for like an hour and cooked some dinner before FINALLY doing my work but i got all my psychology work done 💪 now i'm going to study for bio since i have an exam ewew🙄🙄 on the good side, i posted a dk comfort fic earlier hehe

nana tour is so heartwarming omg :(( its like such a good show to watch for winding down after a long day. happy it makes you happy lovely 🥹 it's literally such a serotonin booster and i love seeing our boys have a good time!! i've only watched the first 2 eps so far but i WILL be continuing it soon !!

YES IVE HEARD OF JELLY POP OMG. i didn't watch boys planet in its entirety but my cousin showed me like a lot of the songs from the show (jelly pop, over me, en garde, hot summer) AND THE SONG IS SO CATCHY !!!

[crisalidaseason]

how do you think each of aot characters kiss?

Hard question, I'll do my best!

Warnings ⚠️ Descriptions of kissing! PDA, Making out.

AoT characters kissing headcannons

Mikasa

Shy kisser, at least in public. Her kisses are very domestic, quick and usually happen early in the morning, right before sleeping, when she's been appart from her partner for too long. I think kissing holds a deep meaning for her and making out isn't frequent unless is a super intense situation.

Eren

Clingy and annoying kisser, but not in a bad way. He just loves physical affection so kisses are a must! Also doesn't care about PDA at all, will kiss his partner in public shamelessly. He is a messy kisser, will in fact try to eat his partner's face.

Armin

Cute devil kisser. Much like Mikasa, he is not into PDA and prefers more of a domestic setting when it comes to kissing. But he is also a menace a little clingy too, kisses are very slow and soft, also very frequent although he asks for consent every single time!

Connie

Emotional kisser. I know, he is constantly joking, but I think he would be dead serious about affection. He gives his partner little pecks on the cheeks and lips out in public, but real kissing and making out is for important and emotional moments. Since he is a funny boy, he also gets sad easily, so kissing is kind of his serotonin booster.

Jean

Passionate kisser. He is a hopeless romantic, loves kissing his partner anytime, for no reason at all. A very very good kisser, be careful, your legs might not work afterwards. Loves PDA, but HATES seeing it (like, the audacity!). Does the little smile while kissing.

Sasha

Joker kisser. She can't kiss seriously, always teasing her partner. LOVES imitating the "lady and tramp" spaghetti kiss or sharing a pocky. But on a serious note, she is such a cute kisser too, she holds the partner's face and kisses them all over.

Levi

Doesn't kiss in public AT ALL! Kisses are extremely intimate and private, not so frequent. His kisses are usually very soft and long (it usually ends with him kissing his partner's forehead).

Erwin

Much like Levi, he's a complete private kisser. He is way more passionate and his kisses are way more frequent than Levi's, but still holds a lot of vulnerability and intimacy. Doesn't understand the concept of making out though, but will indulge in it for his partner.

Hange

Honestly, doesn't really understand the appeal of kissing but will try for their partner's sake. Will do it like a science experiment and probably ask people how they do it just for researching purpose. For a clueless person, they kiss very well! They prefer brushing noses.

Reiner

The crying kisser. This man is a depressed bean. Much like Connie, kisses are a serotonin boost for him. He is a very desperate kisser, maybe because he's scared of loosing his lover. His kisses are fast, intense and very wet from his tears.

Berthold

Quick and innocent peck kind of guy. He is tall, making out and intense kissing is not something his height allows him to do (unless the partner is also very tall, but Bertie is almost 2 meters!). Although in private, while in bed, he is a very slow kisser, just basking in the moment and caressing the partner's face.

Annie

Awkward kisser. Just like Hange, can't see the appeal but only because she is a little too scared of intimacy. Once she feels safe and more open, her kisses are very romantic and careful. Will hold her lover's neck. LONG kissing afternoon sessions.

Pieck

Pieck is an angel! She loves to kiss her partner anytime and anywhere. Her kisses are lazy and sleepy, but very dreamy too. Although she hates kissing with chapstick or lipstick texture going on, so she will remove it or ask her partner to remove it as well if they wear it.

Porco

Low-key pretends he doesn't like kissing in public but is a sucker for PDA. Also smiles while kissing (I love this man) and is such a messy kisser too! Lots of tongue.

Colt

Extremely shy kisser, even in private. He like to take things slow and calmly and his kisses reflect that. He loves to give small pecks to his partners lips, nose and forehead. He will absolutely die from shame if he tries making out with his partner.

Zeke

Honestly, not much of a kisser. He enjoys it, but doesn't really care (only does it for his partner). His kisses are quite good and he tries his best to keep the beard very clean and tidy to make the experience better.

[fbfh]

leo x reader switcheroo au hcs

genre: fluff, lil angst, comfort

au: switcheroo au (you're leo's favorite fictional character)

a/n: debating calling this the reverse self ship au but it's a little clunky and ik not everyone is in the self ship community yk

also I got my covid booster shot today!! (the day I wrote this not the day it uploads lol)

Okay okay

So

We know having Leo as your favorite character is a lot of fun

This boy is a sweet fucking treat

He's a DELIGHT

And oh my god

YOU being LEO'S favorite character??????

It's just as much fun

He regularly re consumes your source material

Whether you’re from a book series, tv show, movie, web comic, video game

Doesn’t matter

You’re 100000% his comfort media

He quotes you literally all the time

Not a day goes by when he’s not making a reference to you and your anecdotes

He absolutely has a blog dedicated to you as well

His queue is always full of fanart, fics, headcanons, and incorrect quotes

He has special tags for fanart and fics he feels really captured you

Like perfectly

He’s super picky about that too

He feels like he knows you better than anybody

Or at least he hopes he does

So when he finds something that just absolutely perfectly encapsulates your vibe???

He’s so obsessed

He doesn’t think he’s that good at creative stuff

He is

So he has a really deep appreciation for fan content

Always leaves comments and rants in the tags

He’s a big fan of really subtle fan merch

Like he wants to feel like a part of your story yk

He’ll try to find replicas of his favorite jewelry and clothes you wear

He’s on a long term mission to get copies all of your signature pieces

Wearing an almost identical copy of your bracelets or favorite hoodie just makes himself feel so close to you

Will totally get samples of perfume he thinks you’d wear to spray on your hoodies and shirts

Commissions fanart and fics whenever he possibly can

Like you’re actually a serotonin factory for this mans

He has a few very, very carefully cultivated playlists dedicated to you

He listens to them all the time

Sometimes when a song on his playlists for you comes on somewhere else

Like on the radio or in a store or something

He just kind of stops for a minute

He’s just overwhelmed with thoughts of you

Sometimes when he needs to feel something he’ll fall down an angst rabbit hole

It’s so painful and you deserve so much better

God it always ends with him desperately wanting to give you the biggest hug

His greatest desire in this world is just to hold you

To look you dead in the face and tell you what a good fucking job you’re doing

How wonderful you are, how sweet and perfect and brilliant you are

How happy you make him

He wants so desperately to hold you and make sure you know what an amazing person you are

Because you’re so, so amazing

Not a single day goes by that he doesn’t think about you, cheeks flushed, eyes hazy

He giggles more when he thinks about you than any other time

Everything you do

Everything you say has his full attention

He’s so hyperfixated on you all the time

You’re hands down his comfort character

Every time he’s having a rough day he can see you crystal clear

You’d know just what to say, just what to do

Just the thought of you makes him feel so much better

The amount of nights he’s cried to you, imagining your comforting touch, your presence so viscerally he can almost feel it

He’s done that an almost comical amount of times

He knows you’d laugh that sweet laugh of yours and give him a fond look

You’d probably give him a kiss

Or several

Before pulling him close and saying something just so incredibly in character for you

The comfort he feels when he thinks of you?????

Un fucking matched

Whoever your love interest is

Whether it’s someone you’re canonically love interests with or just someone the fandom ships you with

Leo does not like them

He’s like how does it feel…. To be living MY dream….

Sometimes he gets in his feels about it and loops treat you better by Shawn Mendes and daydreams about fighting to win your heart

When he’s working on projects

Most of the time he’s also imagining you right next to him

He’s actually solved a lot of problems by mentally talking it out with you

It’s like in the first tatbilb movie how lara jean was lying on her bedroom floor and Josh and Peter appeared next to her

It’s like that

He’s lying on one of those rolly skateboard things figuring out what exactly he needs to solder

Then suddenly you’re next to him

“Oh wow, you’ve made a lot of progress…” you’d muse, remembering where he last left off

God he wants to hold you so fucking badly

But if he has to settle for an unrequited one sided love with the greatest fictional character ever created

Aka you

He’ll make the best with what he has

[shozaii]

title: the free! boys reacting to you holding their faces. (headcanons)

genre: fluff.

masterlist.

extra notes: a few months into dating, and their s/o finally gathers up the courage to hold the boys’ faces. how exactly would they react? i’ve also added some songs which would possibly go great with the boys! enjoy~~~

first of all, makoto.exe has stopped working.

you were probably on the couch, in the most comfortable cuddling position. and you can’t help but look into his beautiful, emerald green eyes, now glowing brightly under the ceiling light of the living room. it somehow is so effective - you drown in them the more you gaze into them. even the eyes look like they’re smiling. how was that even possible?

so involuntarily, your hand reaches for his face, your palm resting in between his cheek and jawline. 

makoto go SHOOK !!

“e-eh?!” he gasps at the sudden contact of your skin against his. realizing it was only you, he softened, now nuzzling his cheek against your palm. “you took me out of my daze...! would you like anything, angel?”

you brought your face up, his point of view now completely matching yours (cue pov by ariana grande oOPS)

 “you’re too cute.”

“y/n-chan, i might explode from blushing too much— but i must say, you’re cuter.”

he can get really smooth when it comes to praising you and such, i can tell. makoto has the blood of being husband material, and i will stand corrected.

tons of blushing, lots of kisses too. expect that coming your way \OwO/

no thoughts, head go brr

literally, this man just went brr when he felt this new feel of contact on his face. his eyes open wide, like this 👁👁

this probably happened after the two of you took a relaxing dip in the bathtub (because he found out that you were vv tired from all the workload you had waiting for you), and the both of you laid in bed, with you hugging him, and his arm wrapped around your figure. it’s almost his favorite position, but he wouldn’t admit it.

“are you feeling better now....?” he asked you with the usual soft tone in his voice.

slowly, you reached your hand up to his face. “absolutely.” (hmmm, cue art deco by lana del rey)

cue the brr !! what is this new form of contact? was he dreaming? this was you, right? hello...??

“haru! haru, love, are you doing okay? why do you look...flushed?”

“who, me? not at all.” and to think that he would say all of this in the most calm and collected manner, without stammering. when in reality he is slowly turning red, and his heart is violently beating, completely being in love with you.

“actually......i like this. can you do it more....often?”

when i first saw rin, the only thing i can think of when he is with his s/o is that he is a genius. in. making you. fluster. he doesn’t even have to try so hard to make you melt into a puddle. with a literal grin, your heart could skip a beat or two.

shark boy do be looking good tho, need i say more?😌

so i’d like to believe that in order to make rin malfunction, just give him affection. give him headpats. peck him on the lips before he goes out for training. enough to make the boy blush all the way, till his friends notice.

then there’s this face holding. you’ve never exactly held his face before, and you wanted to, so badly. (she by harry styles. wink wonk)

it was probably because he kept teasing you that one particular day. 

gou supports this 1000000000%

before his swimming practice, he needs his pep talks from his baby, because why not ;))))

and he’s a lil worried this time ‘cause he wants to make you happy, so he’s moving around a lot more, his breaths shorter, his hands getting colder.

“hey, hey rin. look at me.” and slowly, you place your palm on his cheek, bringing his face to look at you

at this point he’s already red. like red red. “eh? huh? i’m....wha-...?”

“win or lose, you’ll always be the best to me,” you smiled. your hands were warm at that moment, which was why he did not flinch away. the difference in body temperature was huge anyway. cue him sinking into your touch, while he covers his face with his towel. “you got me good this time.”

“now i’m only stating the truth, rin-kun~,” you cooed, sticking your tongue out.

you are his serotonin booster. 10000/10 would want you to hold his face again. please.

⭑･ﾟﾟ･*:༅｡.｡༅:*ﾟ:*:✼✿　　✿✼:*ﾟ:༅｡.｡༅:*･ﾟﾟ･⭑

(a/n): i only wrote three for today!! i promiseeee you i could’ve written more, but hey, let’s start it off pretty simple for now, shall we?? i hope you do enjoy reading this! take care and ily all! kissy🥺💕💕

[thelonelynindroid]

10 Reasons why you should watch 'Kipo and the age of Wonderbeasts'

I could be wrong, but I haven't seen anyone do one of these posts for Kipo yet, and I just love this show *clenches fist* SO DANG MUCH, so here we go 1. The Representation ALL of the main characters are poc, except for the two who are literal animals. One of the main characters is also gay, and straight up says "I'm gay" onscreen, which is a big thing for a kids show!! It's the first time I've ever seen it anyway and it made me super happy. *MINOR SPOILERS* He also gets a boyfriend in later seasons, and they're adorable!! *END OF MINOR SPOILERS* 2. It's Finished All three seasons are out, so you won't have to wait months for new content, or worry about it being cancelled (*cough* like Netflix has done to a LOT of good shows) ! U good probably binge it all in three days. Two if you skip out on sleep 3. The Character Development The character arcs on this show r so fucking *chefs kiss*. Seriously, this show had me emotionally attached to a giant monkey, A cat with an axe, A fucking frog in a suit and a godamn piano playing mandrill. And that's without even MENTIONING the main cast, or any of the human characters. 4. The jokes Hear me out ok. I know shows targeted at kids sometimes overdo the comedy side of things, and while Kipo is SOMETIMES (Sometimes. Only sometimes. ) guilty of that, I fucking LOVE this shows humour. The comedy creates a rlly good balance with the serious stuff, bc trust me, this show HURTS sometimes. But the jokes are genuinely funny and feel natural to the characters, and r done in a way that if you rewatch you'll be laughing at things u didn't Even Notice the first time around. 5. The Music The entire soundtrack fucking slaps. And all the scenes set to music are choosen so perfectly it never ever fails to make me Feel Things. The soundtracks to all three seasons r also on Spotify, so u can jam all u want 6. The Compelling and Unique story set up Picture this: it's hundreds of years into the future. Thousands maybe, I can't remember exactly. Most humans have long retreated underground to live in 'burrows' after something caused animals to mutate, making them essentially equal to humans in terms of brainpower. These 'Mutes' now rule the 'surface', and are sworn enimies of human kind (the feeling is mutal). These formidable threats include frogs in suits, big fluffy cats with bigger sharp axes, rock playing snakes, and a monkey trying to recreate the french aristocracy. One day a human girl is thrown out of her burrow after an attack. She's got pink hair. She's got next to no impulse control. And she's got the biggest fucking heart. Yeah. That's Kipo. 7. The Character design and Visual artistry The character designs are unique and fit each person perfectly. And sound like a furry but...ALL the mute designs r so fucking awesome, no exceptions. I'm no animation guru but the show is so visualy pleasing, from chase sequences with PERFECT choreography to all the pretty Colours, which r hands down one of my favourite parts abt the show. It's just. Ugh. It's so pretty to look at ok. And so visually engaging!! There's always more to look at wherever u look, it's like an 'I always feel understimulated' DREAM 8. The Voice Acting I know this can be said of a hell of a lot of shows, but the voice cast is amazing. So many lines are so Emotionally raw and believable, it rlly gets you convinced that the characters are real people. 9. The Emotional impact, even through to the finale Kipo has so many moments that Get To Me. I cried like three times during season three. While the show is fun and upbeat (and an instant serotonin booster for me) it rlly has its heavier moments, and boy does the angst hurt sometimes. This impact carries thru all the way to the last episode. I know we've all been there, when ur favourite shows ending dissapoints. When there's multiple seasons build up to the climax, and the last few episodes just feel...flat. Kipo is not that show. 10. It deserves more love I know the Internet loves calling anything and everything 'underrated', but seriously, it is. With the amout of good characters, good rep, and good episodes, Kipo's fanbase is TINY compared to other amazing shows, like She-ra for instance. Kipo deserves more hype!! And I, ofc, want more ppl to scream about it with. So uh. Yeah. Thanks for coming to my TED talk, go watch Kipo?

[preraphaelitepunk]

Fictober19 Day 30: Semantics

Prompt #30: I’m with you, you know that.

Fandom: Good Omens

Characters: Crowley, Aziraphale

Rating: Teen (bit of swearing)

Warnings: Mild description of recurring depression

On AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/20843936/chapters/50566493

“That ice cream man was definitely flirting with you, angel.”

“That is no excuse for melting that lolly all over his hand like that.” Aziraphale pulled the flake out of his ice cream and bit into it with rather more force than necessary. “And besides, he was simply being friendly.”

“Friendly? Hah. Wanted to climb you like a tree,” Crowley muttered.

Aziraphale gave him a severe look. “He was doing his job. People in service jobs are required to be friendly; they are not flirting, and you’re being unreasonable.”

“I know the difference, angel. That man was not just doing his job; he wanted to lick you like that Mister Whippy.”

“Really, Crowley, there is no need to be uncouth.” He was so cute when the tips of his ears went pink like that, and Crowley found it harder maintain a proper sulk when the angel looked like that.

They strolled in silence for a bit. Eventually, Crowley said, “‘Snot his fault, really, I guess. I mean, he has eyes, of course he’s going to go all mushy when he sees you. It just gets up my nose.”

Smiling, Aziraphale reached out for his hand, gave it a squeeze. “You old softie. I’m with you, you know that, and nothing will ever change that.”

“I know.” Even after all this time, it was hard to say the words; there was still a part of his brain that screamed he was unforgivable, he didn’t deserve such happiness and he certainly didn’t deserve Aziraphale, that it was all just temporary and his angel would soon realize how he’d been conned and disappear from Crowley’s life. He’d learned to ignore that part of him, fight it, smother it with a big pile of wonder and joy and contentment until its cries were muffled. He knew it lied. Most of the time, he knew. Today, at least, he knew, but it was always there, lurking.

He gave Aziraphale’s hand a return squeeze. Today, he knew. “It’s just that, after a certain point, I do get a little jealous. Not that I don’t trust you; ’smore that I don’t trust them.”

“I hardly think you need to worry about that, my dear. I can take care of myself. Oh, I admit that I enjoy it tremendously when you take care of me, but that’s a luxury, darling, not a necessity.”

“Not that way. ’Course you can take care of yourself; you’re the bloody Guardian of the Eastern Gate. It’s more,” he trailed off, thinking.

“More what?”

“Um. More that I don’t like them getting ideas, and thinking that’s all right. Them looking at you and going ‘ooh, he’s gorgeous, I like’ is fine; that’s just normal.” He ignored Aziraphale’s disparaging snort. “What I don’t like is them thinking you’re gorgeous and that they have a chance with you.”

“I am intimately familiar with that sensation,” Aziraphale said.

“What?”

“Oh, it happens all the time, darling. You ooze temptation, and the poor things can’t help themselves. That gaggle of girls at the coffee shop? Absolutely falling all over themselves to get your attention.”

“Naw. Really? Naw, that’s ridiculous. Wait, is that why you pinched my bum?”

Aziraphale pursed his lips primly. “That might have been part of the reason.”

“So, we both need a way to tell people to back off. They can look but don’t touch, get any funny ideas.”

“I believe the traditional human method, at least in England, is rings on the third finger of the left hand.”

“Marriage?” Crowley missed a step. “Is that something you’d want, angel?”

“Hmm. Not sure.” He saw Crowley’s face and added, “I’m sure about you, my love. I’m just not sure whether marriage is appropriate. It’s a very human institution, and we’re not technically human.”

“Nglh.”

“Besides, is it even necessary? The UK hasn’t recognized common-law marriage for a couple hundred years, but that’s just from a legal standpoint. Hardly relevant to us. From a cultural standpoint, we’ve been together for so long, most people would almost certainly consider us married already.”

“Er. Given this a lot of thought, have you?” Crowley tried to keep his voice casual.

“Certainly! I’ve been researching. It’s important that we know what to call each other.”

Crowley wrinkled his brow in thought. “Seems like you’ve mostly called me your boyfriend.”

“Well, yes. I didn’t want to introduce anything more serious without talking to you about it first.”

“So we’re talking now. Spill.”

“Well, first I researched various terms we could use. We’re not boys in any real sense, so boyfriend doesn’t feel quite right.”

“It’s great, but yeah: not a boy, either of us.”

“And then there’s lover, which is just a little too . . . sticky. Paramour is the same.”

“‘Hi, this is Aziraphale, my luvvah,’” Crowley said experimentally, and laughed. “Yeah, it’s a bit too squicky. Could be fun, though.”

“In certain contexts, perhaps.”

“Like if Gabriel ever shows up again?”

Aziraphale giggled. “Can you imagine his face? ‘My lover, Crowley. My demon lover.’ He’d spontaneously combust.”

“We definitely have to use that one on him.”

“Oh, I agree, but it’s not for general use.”

“So what is?”

“Well, I thought about historical terms. Leman, for instance.”

“You are not calling me your lemon, angel.”

“Spelled differently, darling. How about soulmate?”

“Definitely not!”

“Inamorato? Significant other? Partner?”

Crowley ticked off the options on his fingers. “First one, only if I can grow a handlebar mustache and twirl it like an old-timey villain in silent movies. Second one, blech. Third one, too ambiguous. We’re not business partners.”

“Beloved?”

“Huh.” Crowley tried this one out mentally. “Works for you referring to me, but. . . . ”

“‘This is Aziraphale, my beloved.’ Yes, I see your point; not really your style. More of a pet name.”

“Not that you aren’t. My beloved, that is. Just can’t see myself introducing you that way.”

Aziraphale gave him one of those sidelong glances that always sent Crowley’s heart skipping. “Then I suppose we’re left with husband. We can just omit the societal common-law part. Unless you want the ritual of an actual marriage?”

“Nah, not big on ritual, me. Unless you want it?”

“Not at all, poppet. The only important thing is how we feel, not some silly human ceremony.”

Crowley swung their hands a bit, musing. “Husbands. ‘My husband, Aziraphale.’ I like it.”

“So do I. We’ll have to look for rings, of course.”

“Yeah, a big ‘fuck off, I’m taken’ sign for both of us. Hey, you don’t wear your signet ring any more. That could do for mine.”

“If you like, but I’d rather get you one of your own. One with no bad memories attached. Would that be all right?”

“Anything you want, angel. Husband.”

Aziraphale moved closer, so their shoulders rubbed and bumped other as they walked. “I do like the sound of that.”

“So do I.” The back part of his brain, the part where all the self-loathing and despair lived, tried to warn him not to believe it, it was all an illusion and everything would fall apart because of his own innate and irreparable unworthiness, but he squashed it with an ease that startled him. It turned out that husband was the most effective serotonin booster he’d ever encountered. Who knew a little word like that would have so much power?

[howellrichard]

7 Mood-Boosting Foods to Fight the Winter Blues

Hiya Gorgeous!

As much as I love this time of year—cozy evenings in front of the fire, treks in the woods with my snowshoes (followed by the occasional hot toddy!)—I also know how challenging it can be for some people. I have personal experience with the winter blues—aka Seasonal Affective Disorder—and its often debilitating symptoms.

The accumulation of chilly, dark, gray days during the colder months can really take a toll on our well-being. Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that impacts millions of people annually, and 60-90% of these folks are women (source and source). Of course, guys aren’t exempt, but it seems as though gals experience it more often.

As I mention in my 10 Ways to Conquer Seasonal Affective Disorder blog, there’s plenty you can do to keep your spirits up during the colder months. It’s important to sleep well, get out of the house and prioritize physical activity. But today I want to focus how you can eat to beat the winter blues. Let’s chat about the foods you’ll want to have on hand in your pantry and fridge all winter long for an extra boost of blues protection. Bon appetit!

Keep your spirits up until spring arrives by eating these SAD-busting foods!

7 Mood-Boosting Foods to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder

Brazil nuts are loaded with selenium, which is a highly effective mood booster (study). They’re so rich in this mineral that just two a day can significantly increase the amount of selenium circulating in your body (study). Plus, Brazil nuts (like most nuts) are packed with several mood-boosting B vitamins (study). Crumble a couple Brazil nuts on top of a salad, a bowl of oatmeal or fresh berries. Or just eat a few as a snack (I do!). Try to add a serving per day whenever you can (stick with no more than 5 Brazil nuts a day on a regular basis to reap the benefits without overdoing it on selenium).

Pumpkin seeds are the perfect food for managing seasonal affective disorder because of their magnesium content. Just 1/4 cup of these bad boys has 50% of your daily recommended magnesium intake. This incredible mineral promotes relaxation, better sleep and anxiety relief (study, study, and study). And like Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds make great salad toppers and an awesome addition to trail mix or your favorite chickpea hummus recipe.

Dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa is best because it’s lower in sugar) contains polyphenols, which help to elevate mood and relieve anxiety and depression (study). If you wanna try something new, melt a couple squares of chocolate with 1/4 cup of non-dairy milk. Add the mixture to 2 Tbsp of chia seeds and let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, then savor your scrumptious chocolate pudding. Or, just enjoy a few squares as an after-dinner treat. Chocolate lovers, rejoice!

Lentils are folic acid powerhouses—1 cup cooked has 90% of your daily recommended intake. Folic acid regulates the production of the “feel good” and energizing hormone serotonin, making it especially helpful in beating seasonal affective disorder and enhancing mood (study). It also helps the body generate new cells, keeping you more energized in winter months (study). In addition, the complex carbohydrates in lentils boost tryptophan production, which in turn boosts (you guessed it!) serotonin production (study). Get more of these lovely legumes in your diet by making a big pot of lentil soup, adding cooked lentils to pasta sauce, stirring them into a rice or couscous dish, or eating them in a chilled salad with oranges, celery and a citrus vinaigrette. Yum!

Spinach is especially high in iron, which helps keep our red blood cells oxygenated and our bodies energized (study). It’s also a surprisingly rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which may help alleviate depression in winter months (study). And the benefits don’t stop there. Spinach is packed with potassium and magnesium, which both assist with regulating stress hormones and sleep cycles (study, study and study). Last, but not least, its vitamin C content helps fights fatigue and depression (study). Since it’s practically tasteless, it’s easy to add spinach to your smoothies, juices, soups, salads and casseroles. Enjoy at least 1 cup of raw spinach or 1/2 cup of cooked spinach per day as often as possible.

Flax seeds are packed with depression-blocking Omega-3 fatty acids (as mentioned above, these help your body maintain healthy levels of feel-good brain chemicals). Two tablespoons a day contain 133% of the recommended daily dose of Omega 3s! Get ‘em ground or grind them yourself in a coffee bean grinder to get their full benefit. You can use them as an egg substitute (how cool!) in baking or for French toast (1 Tbsp ground flax seeds + 3 Tbsp  water = 1 egg). You could also toss them into hot cereal or oatmeal, stir them into almond butter for dipping apple or celery slices, or whisk some into a salad dressing.

Quinoa and other whole grains are full of complex carbs, which help boost serotonin levels in the brain (goodbye, seasonal affective disorder!). As I mentioned above, serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that elevates mood, improves memory, and even elevates sexual desire and function. Plus, quinoa is a rich source of protein, which means that it can help balance blood sugars, leading to more sustainable energy and steady mood. Whole grains really are superstars in my book. You can learn more about their many amazing health benefits here!

This Crazy Sexy Juice smoothie recipe really does the trick when it comes to packing in a hefty helping of some supreme SAD-fighters—spinach, flaxseed and Brazil nuts!

Hormone Helper Smoothie

Makes 2 servings (20 to 24 ounces)

1 banana, frozen

1/2 cup blueberries, frozen

1/2 cup young Thai coconut meat

1 3/4 cups Brazil nut milk or nondairy milk of choice

1 teaspoon flax seeds, ground

1 teaspoon maca

1 cup spinach, tightly packed

1. Wash and prep all ingredients. 2. Blend and serve.

Wanna cook up more ways to beat the winter blues? Download your 4 free SAD-busting recipes!

Your turn:  What plant-based foods and eating habits help keep your spirits up during the winter season? I’d love to know!

Peace & cheerier days,

The post 7 Mood-Boosting Foods to Fight the Winter Blues appeared first on KrisCarr.com.