Uber Eats Reveals Feel-Good Foods Proven To Make You Smile
Written by- To celebrate International Day of Happiness, Uber Eats unveils the top 10 foods scientifically proven to boost your mood, including chocolate, red meat and kimchi
- In partnership with food scientist Jozef Youssef, Uber Eats has uncovered that carbs, along with green and yellow foods, help turn your frown upside down
- ‘Happy’ orders peak on Sunday, 6pm. Singaporeans are all prepping for the Monday Blues!
- The most popular mood-boosting meals you can order in Singapore include Salmon Bowl from A Poke Theory and Sesame Chicken from Lau Wang Claypot Delights.
In celebration of International Day of Happiness today, Uber Eats has partnered with globally-renowned Kitchen Theory founder and experimental chef Jozef Youssef to unveil a definitive list of mood-enhancing foods.
According to Youssef, who is also Associate Editor of the International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, carbs are not the enemy and are in fact one of the best ways to incorporate serotonin-producing foods into your diet.
Youssef’s research also showed a correlation between certain ingredients and improved mood, with different elements, including texture and colour, also yielding positive effects:
- Crunchy and chewy foods, along with antioxidant-rich foods such as avocado, mango, blueberries and figs are proven to prevent and relieve stress
- Green foods like vegetables calm us down while we associate yellow foods like bananas with happiness
- Nutrient-rich foods like fish helps us get through a busy day at work
- Chemicals in foods like chicken, red meat, chocolate and peanuts are proven to make us happier
Craving for some feel-good food? Uber Eats data reveals that the most popular mood-boosting meals ordered in Singapore include Salmon Bowl from A Poke Theory and Sesame Chicken from Lau Wang Claypot Delights, with orders peaking at 6pm on Sundays!
Jozef Youssef comments: “There is a clear scientific link between the food that we eat and our mood. It’s commonly said that variety is the spice of life, so having a rich and varied diet helps us maintain a happy mind and body. Services like Uber Eats that offer a diverse array of happiness-inducing meal options help us boost our mood by taking our taste buds on a non-stop adventure.”
Jeanette Mellinger, Head of User Experience Research at Uber Eats adds: At Uber Eats, our mission is to make eating well effortless, every day for everyone. Although the definition ‘eating well’ means different things to different people, we can get one step closer to offering food recommendations that most contribute to this, by working with Jozef Youssef to understand the science behind how food makes us feel. We strive to constantly provide diverse meal options, and now we can do so by understanding our biochemistry and our moods, not just the latest food trends. We’re looking forward to connecting consumers with food that improves their days, at the tap of a button.”
The top ten scientific mood-boosting foods
- Sweet Potato – vibrant in both colour and flavour, it is a delicious complex starch, beneficial for the production of serotonin, also known as ‘happiness’ neurotransmitter.
- Salmon – another vibrantly coloured ingredient, much loved for its buttery texture and feel, salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which benefits the brain.
- Kale – crunchy and earthy, kale is another complex starch that is also good for serotonin production.
- Bananas – beaming with a big yellow smile, bananas are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and pre-biotic foods which help with digestion – and this impacts mood!
- Blueberries – these vibrant little berries contain special antioxidants called carotenoids flavonoids and other antioxidant compounds like vitamin A, C, E, selenium, zinc, and phosphorus.
- Red meat – a good source of tryptophan which is essential in the production of serotonin and provides a number of essential nutrients, including protein, zinc and vitamin B12.
- Mango – flesh bursting with the colour of sunshine, soft to touch and a heady sweet aroma, mango is packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
- Chocolate – a prebiotic and antioxidant treat known for putting a smile on most people’s faces.
- Walnuts – coincidentally shaped like a brain, walnuts are known to be highly beneficial for our brain and are not only packed with antioxidants but also contain a number of other neuroprotective compounds, including vitamin E, folate, melatonin,omega-3 fats.
- Kimchi (or sauerkraut) – fiery in both flavour and colour, kimchi is a prebiotic food and the lactic acid bacteria formed during the fermentation of kimchi may also help your body break down pesticides.
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