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Hey Life Warriors!
Surely if someone asked us, we would all say yes to doing whatever it takes to be happier. After all, what is more important than being happy? However, either due to ignorance or laziness, most of us end up letting ourselves be carried away by the search for shallower, but more immediate gratifications, which provide us with that pleasant little boost that helps us cope with day to day. In this article we are going to tell you three things that will make you happier. All three are scientifically proven, and best of all, you can do all three for little to no financial cost. Let’s get with it!
1. Eat more protein
We have already seen repeatedly how important it is to include enough protein in our diet (between 1.5 and 2 grams per kilogram of ideal weight per day). Even so, the daily protein intake of a large number of people remains well below this range.
And what does protein have to do with being happier? Well, it has a lot to do with it. Serotonin, the neurotransmitter most related to our mood, is synthesized in the body through an amino acid, tryptophan. This amino acid is found mainly in foods rich in protein, so if you want to be happier, eat more protein 😉
Here is a list of 10 tryptophan-rich foods with their corresponding content of this amino acid per 100 grams:
Spirulina: 1.17g
Soybeans: 0.93g
Parmesan cheese: 0.77 g
Pumpkin seeds: 0.57 g
Chicken breast: 0.49 g
Tofu: 0.45g
Turkey: 0.34 g
Cheddar cheese: 0.32 g
Salmon: 0.29g
Eggs: 0.28g
2. Eat more vegetables
In Arnold Schwarzenegger’s newsletter , Arnold’s Pump Club (if you don’t know it is worth checking out) we have found this valuable information.
Surely most of us remember how traumatic it was to be forced to eat vegetables when we were little. Well, although surely it was without being aware of it, our mothers were not only looking out for our health, but also for our happiness (actually it would be difficult to be happy without being in good health, right?) .
Scientific evidence suggests that the more fruits and vegetables you eat, the more it could improve your mental health. We can see it in a study published last year – a randomized controlled trial (the gold standard) – suggests that it could be more than that. In the study, one group of participants ate their normal diet, while another group received a weekly amount of vegetables (scientists measured blood and skin to make sure people were eating the vegetables). Those who were fed with plants said they felt happier than before starting the experiment and happier than those who did not receive the fresh products.
How is this possible? At the moment, there are more questions than answers, although in the previous point you already have a clue of various plant foods that will make you happier. In any case, adding a little more fruit and vegetables to your diet will surely not do you any harm. It can improve your mood, it is also associated with improved immunity and longevity.
3. Train!
At this point, I don’t think there is anyone left in the world who is unaware of the advantages of doing physical exercise on a regular basis, but we are going to give you one more. As we explained in a previous article , physical exercise also provides great benefits at the cognitive level. You don’t have to believe us; Just listen to neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki as she explains how she herself experienced these benefits, specifically in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus:
If you don’t have time or money to go to the gym, don’t worry. In any of our profiles ( https://bento.me/lifewarrior ) you have lots of free workouts that you can do anywhere without the need for any equipment. There are no excuses!
Here you have it, three simple ways within everyone’s reach to be happier. What do you think? We read you in the comments!