It’s time to go nuts. That’s because these bite-sized foods are loaded with healthy benefits that will leave you smiling. Nuts are full of serotonin, a feel-good chemical that’s in short supply when you’re depressed. (5) Nuts are also full of antioxidants and healthy fats. I’m a fan of walnuts, Brazil nuts and cashews — just be sure to be mindful of how many you eat. While they are healthy, nuts are also high in fat and calories, so a handful or two is usually the right amount.
I have no clue how much serotonin is in nuts. I do have a great mood and I eat a lot of nuts, so there’s that.
In addition to fruits and vegetables, there are also significant serotonin levels found in nuts. In particular, nuts from the walnut family have very high levels of serotonin. For example, butternuts have 398 micrograms of serotonin per gram of the nut, black walnuts have 304 micrograms of serotonin per gram of the nut and English walnuts have 87 micrograms of serotonin per gram of the nut. Outside of the walnut family, pecans and sweet pignuts have high levels of serotonin at 29 and 25 micrograms per gram of the nut, respectively.
Serotonin-Stimulating Foods
You must combine your intake of tryptophan-rich foods with complex carbohydrates to effectively increase your brain’s serotonin levels. In “101 Optimal Life Foods,” nutritionist David Grotto identifies chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, dairy products, soy, nuts, beans, salmon and tuna as good sources of tryptophan. Foods rich in complex carbohydrates include bananas, beets, brown rice, fennel, figs, pasta, pineapple, potatoes, radishes, spinach and whole grains.
The Serotonin in nuts does not enter the brain, only the tryptophan in them.
The Serotonin in nuts does affect the digestive tract, causing them to be expelled quicker.