7. Select Selenium-Rich Foods
Selenium supplementation of 200 micrograms a day for seven weeks improved mild and moderate depression in 16 elderly participants, according to a small study from Texas Tech University. Previous studies have also reported an association between low selenium intakes and poorer moods.
More studies are needed, but it can't hurt to make sure you're eating foods that help you meet the Dietary Reference Intake for selenium (55 micrograms a day). It's possible to ingest toxic doses of selenium, but this is unlikely if you're getting it from foods rather than supplements.
Foods rich in selenium are foods we should be eating anyway such as:
- Seafood (oysters, clams, sardines, crab, saltwater fish and freshwater fish)
- Nuts and seeds (particularly Brazil nuts)
- Lean meat (lean pork and beef, skinless chicken and turkey)
- Whole grains (whole-grain pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, etc.)
- Beans/legumes
- Low-fat dairy products
8. Don't Overdo Caffeine
In people with sensitivity, caffeine may exacerbate depression. (And if caffeine keeps you awake at night, this could certainly affect your mood the next day.) Those at risk could try limiting or eliminating caffeine for a month or so to see if it improves mood.
