‘Good mood foods’ can beat depression

Published on 20/08/2012 00:21

CHOCOLATE and strawberries could improve the moods of manic depressives and pave the way for new treatments, according to research.

A new study has shown how “good mood foods” – such as chocolate, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries – bear a chemical similarity to valproic acid, a prescription mood-stabilising drug.

Sold under brand names that include “Depakene”, “Depakote” and “Stavzor”, valproic acid is used to 
smooth out the mood 
swings of people with 
manic-depressive disorder 
and related conditions.

And although chocolate, 
a variety of berries and 
foods containing omega-3 fatty acids have shown “positive effects on mood”, the study shows some commonly used flavour components are “structurally similar to valproic acid”, the research team revealed.