Life is filled with emotional highs and lows, from joyful moments to stressful times in which everything seems to trigger frustration or sadness, and sometimes even depression.
If you’re going through an emotional time in your life, taking a mood booster supplement can assist in making things easier.
The best mood boosting supplements improve your feelings and thoughts in several different ways, from increasing the production of mood-enhancing chemicals , to improving your mental performance and function.
While these supplements shouldn’t be viewed as treatments for mental health conditions like major depression or anxious disorders, these supplements may act as a valuable component of your own toolbox for maintaining mental well-being.
Below, we’ve covered the mood-boosting vitamins and supplements are, and the ways they can improve your feelings, thoughts and moods.
We’ve also provided the best supplements to improve your mood and making strides through life, even when the odds feel stacked against you.
Mood boosters are prescription products that are made to boost your mood and thoughts, as well as certain aspects of your general cognitive performance. Sometimes, they’re referred in the form of “brain supplements” also known as “mood pill.”
Most supplements for improving your moods and feelings contain minerals, vitamins, nutrients and herbs.
Before we discuss the specifics of mood-enhancing supplements and other brain health supplements it’s essential to get one thing out and out of our way. The supplements that boost mood aren’t drugs or prescription drugs, and aren’t made to treat mental health disorders.
This means that if you’ve been diagnosed with a mental health condition and you’re not able to use an uplifting supplement for mood to substitute for your medications or treatment for mental health such as psychotherapy.
Instead, it’s best to look at natural supplements for your mood as general instruments that can support a stable, happy attitude throughout your day.
It’s important to recognize that research behind many of these nutrient supplements isn’t always perfect and that we’re still working on understanding what these substances can aid your mental well-being.
In simple terms, mood-boosting supplements are optional extras that might make you feel better, but they are not “cure-alls” to treat issues such as anxiety and depression.
How Do Mood Supplements to boost your mood work?
So, how can these supplements really work? Through the years, researchers have looked at a wide range of ingredients for potential beneficial results on mood as well as quality of life. They have made a number of interesting discoveries along the way.
A large portion of the ingredients in mood-boosting supplements are believed to be effective by increasing your body’s production and release of neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that are involved in regulating your thoughts and feelings.
Two neurotransmitters that are often popping in the research are dopamine and serotonin. The first of these neurotransmitters, serotonin, is thought to reduce your levels of happiness, anxiety, focus and general stability in your emotions.
Insufficient levels of serotonin are associated with certain mood disorders, such as clinical depression and anxiety.
Dopamine, on the other hand is involved in the brain processes involved in learning rewards, memory, and learning. It is a “feel well” chemical that is involved in regulating your feelings, controlling your focus and serving as motivation to carry on with your tasks.
A variety of mood-boosting supplements are effective — or at least, claim to be effective — by increasing the concentrations of either one of the neurotransmitters.
Others help to improve the health of your cognitive system in general. Some examples include: many supplements to boost your mood contain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and other compounds which are associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment.
In general, mood-boosting supplements adhere to the general “rule” of dietary supplements The active ingredients are much, significantly more important than the brand name.
In light of this, we’ve concentrated on certain components to be on the lookout for, rather than brand-name pills, drinks and other products that claim to make you feel more relaxed, boost your energy levels, and help issues like depressive symptoms.
The Best Mood Boosting Supplements & Vitamins
While there’s no “best” mood-boosting supplement for everyone, studies suggest that certain ingredients of supplements can have positive effects on the levels of serotonin in your body in general mood and health.
Below, we’ve listed the ingredients together with research to back up each ingredient’s potential for mood-boosting effects.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is one of the essential nutrients which your body utilizes to maintain strong and healthy bones to reducing inflammation, managing cell growth and metabolizing glucose.
Research suggests that low levels of vitamin D could be a factor in depression symptoms. For instance, a study released in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine in the year 2020 found that levels of serum D levels are in inverse correlation with a person’s risk of depression.
Your body gets most of its vitamin D from sunlight and also from dietary sources such as mushrooms, fish milk, fortified cereals and dairy products.
There is evidence the possibility that vitamin D supplements may help to improve the mood of those who suffer from depression. In a meta-analysis of four trials, researchers found that people who used vitamin D supplements experienced an improvement in their perception of depression-related symptoms.
But, they cautioned that the findings must be considered tentative, as the number of research studies on depression and vitamin D is currently limited along with the overall quality of research is uneven.
B Vitamins
The B vitamins are a group of vitamins that play important aspects in your health, such as allowing your body make red blood cells as well as produce power from the nutrients in food.
Several B vitamins are also linked with improvements in mood and brain function. In one review published in the journal Nutrients, researchers linked to B nutrients folate (vitamin B9) B6, B6 or B12 to neurotransmitter production or general health brain function.
Some research also suggests that supplementing B vitamins may help to lower the degree of depression symptoms for people who use antidepressants.
For instance A randomized controlled study published in The Open Neurology Journal in 2013 found people with depression who had low healthy vitamin B12 levels who were treated with an vitamin B12 treatment in conjunction with antidepressants showed larger improvements over their peers.
However, this doesn’t suggest that B vitamins can treat depression symptoms when taken without prescription medication.
Similar to vitamin D, a variety of B vitamins are found in food items, like leafy vegetables, and protein sources, such as poultry and fish, red meat and dairy products. Many multivitamin supplements also contain B vitamins.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are naturally-occurring fats found in certain foods, such as fat fish, plant-based cooking oils, as well as some seeds and nuts. They’re also available in the form of supplements, for example, fish oil capsules.
Although omega-3 supplements are best known for their effects on heart health, research suggests that omega-3 fat acids could also play a key role in helping to prevent certain mood disorders.
Research has found that deficits in some omega-3 acids are a contributing reason for mood disorders and that omega-3 supplementation may provide benefits in treating certain forms of depressive illness.
However, as doses, study designs and omega-3 ratios can differ from study to study, experts haven’t yet worked out the exact way that omega-3 acids could be utilized in treatments for depression and other mood disorders.
Creatine
If you’ve heard of creatine before, you probably associate it with improved exercise performance and increased muscle mass.
Although it’s best known as a health supplement however, there is some scientific evidence to suggest that it can aid in boosting mood and improve your mental clarity.
For example, research has found that creatine may have antidepressant effects.Other studies have revealed that taking creatine orally can enhance short-term memory and various other aspects of cognitive performance.
However, the exact relationship between creatine and the potential improvement in mood isn’t yet fully realized.
St. John’s Wort
Hypericum perforatum, also known as St. John’s wort, is an herb that’s been used as a component in traditional European medical practices for hundreds of years. It’s widely marketed as a supplement to boost spirits and treating minor types of depression.
Although there are mixed results regarding St. John’s wort overall however, some studies have proven that it is beneficial for people suffering from mild to moderate depression. However the range of these studies is limited, and it’s unclear how long these benefits may last.
One thing to be aware of regarding St. John’s wort is that it could be a drug interaction, which includes several common antidepressants. Certain interactions could be life-threatening and cause health issues.
In this regard, it’s essential to speak with your healthcare provider before using St. John’s wort to increase your mood, specifically if you use any existing medications to treat anxiety or depression.
NAC (N-Acetylcysteine)
N-acetylcysteine, also known as NAC, is an amino acid accessible as a diet supplement. It’s utilized as a treatment for various health conditions that include acetaminophen abuse and chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD).
Experts have researched the effects and effects of NAC in relation to mental wellbeing for many years, with promising results for mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and substance use disorders.
There’s some evidence that NAC can be beneficial for people suffering from mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder, however, the results vary from one study to another.
Today, experts believe more research is needed to study the efficacy of NAC as a enhancer of mood.
Zinc
Zinc is a crucial mineral your body requires to perform a variety of functions, including helping to maintain optimal brain health as well as the metabolism of cells. It’s found in several foods, including oysters, crab, and red meat.
Over time, researchers have looked into a possible link between zinc and the symptoms of depression. Intervention studies demonstrating that supplementation with zinc can boost positive mood in people with depressive conditions.
However, the possible mechanisms that link zinc to mood regulation aren’t completely clear as of yet. Research is in progress to determine the effectiveness of zinc as a treatment for mood disorders.
Magnesium
Magnesium is yet another important mineral. It’s essential to support more than 300 functions in your body. This includes helping to boost the immune system, helping you maintain a steady heart rate and supporting normal nerve function.
The research has linked magnesium to brain regions in the limbic system, the brain region which is responsible for controlling emotions. There’s also a connection between magnesium deficiency and the symptoms of depression.
Although the results of research are not entirely positive however, some studies have discovered that magnesium could help to improve mood and help treat depression.
Magnesium can be found in many common foods, including fruits, nuts, milk, whole grains as well as soy and peas. It’s also an ingredient commonly found in mineral supplements.
What Should You Do If You Feel Depressed
If you’re feeling tired, stressed, or simply unhappy, adding one or more of the supplements mentioned above to your daily routine might assist in promoting better moods and mental wellbeing.
However, if you’re experiencing the signs of depression among women, including a perpetually negative mood, decreased interest in your hobbies and relationships, or even thoughts of suicide, it’s important to seek help from a licensed mental health professional.
Get help by asking your primary care provider for a mental health referral or meeting with a mental health professional in your area or connecting to an authorized provider online through our mental health services including our online psychiatry services.
If you suffer from depression disorder, your doctor may recommend using medication, taking part in therapy or a mixture of approaches to manage your symptoms and assist you to feel better.
If you’re currently taking supplements to boost your mood, be sure to inform your medical practitioner prior to taking any form of medication for depression as some mood supplements may cause or contribute to adverse reactions and/or drug interactions.
If you are suffering from symptoms of severe depression and need urgent help, you can use the services from our list of mental health crisis and crisis hotlines to get professional care right away.
The Bottom Line on Mood Boosting Supplements
The most effective mood-boosting supplements may help to stabilize your mood, lessen the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms and also provide positive results. Other supplements, like the Mood Mind Health Probiotic may help promote the balance of your digestive system and improve your emotional wellbeing.
We have an article on more probiotics for depression and anxiety on this page If you’d like to know more.
These benefits can make the most appropriate mood-boosting supplements additions to your daily routine, especially if you’re going through a tough time in your life.
But, it’s crucial to be aware that mood boosters aren’t medications and they’re not approved as treatments for anxiety or depression.
If you think you may be depressed or affected by other mental health disorders It is important to seek professional help. You can do this through a conversation with your primary health care provider or at home by using our online mental health services.
