Mood-Boosting Super Foods

Delicious, easy to cook and, during the right season, British produced,
what's not to like about asparagus? When down in the doldrums, make it
your veggie of choice.

It's the potassium in bananas which make them such a good snack for
those feeling stressed or tired and, at less than 100 calories each,
they're a far more sensible solution than another bar of chocolate.

Unfortunately not an excuse to start drinking pint upon pint of beer, buy the yeast from the cookery section of your local supermarket or health food shop and mix it in with yoghurt and fruit to make a healthy morning smoothie. You'll feel all the better for it.

Did you know buckwheat is actually related to rhubarb? No, us neither. Either way, adding it to your diet is a brilliant way to combat stress. We like it best when used to make buckwheat pancakes.

It might be tempting to reach for the bottle of red when feeling down,
but you'd do much better to eat grapes or drink grape juice. Nourishing,
mood-boosting and brilliant at sorting all manner of ailments, keep a
bunch in the fridge at all times.

Yes, yes, we know you think it makes you bloated, but many
'wheat-intolerant' people are actually reacting to the pesticide
residues left over from farming methods rather than the wheat itself.
Try wholewheat bread and rolls made from organically grown wheat and
your sarnies will suddenly seem a whole lot more tasty.

A health-food-shop favourite, millet is rich in silicon, which is vital
for healthy skin, hair, teeth, eyes and nails - after all, looking
better always makes us feel better.

You don't have to be in the mood for seduction to eat oysters; even on a Bridget Jones-style night in alone, savouring a dozen should bring a smile to your face.

With more calcium than milk, more iron than eggs and heap loads of potassium, molasses is a much-maligned superfood. OK, so you shouldn't go overboard as it's still very high in sugar, but a spoonful added to cakes is a far better sweetener than regular cane sugar - and it makes us happy!