summaryĭark chocolate is rich in compounds that may increase feel-good chemicals in your brain.įermented foods, which include kimchi, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut, may improve gut health and mood. You should still stick to 1–2 small squares (of 70% or more cocoa solids) at a time since it’s a high calorie food. Regardless, it’s high in health-promoting flavonoids, which have been shown to increase blood flow to your brain, reduce inflammation, and boost brain health, all of which may support mood regulation ( 11, 13).įinally, chocolate has a high hedonic rating, meaning that its pleasurable taste, texture, and smell may also promote good mood ( 7, 8).īecause milk chocolate contains added ingredients like sugar and fat, it’s best to opt for dark chocolate - which is higher in flavonoids and lower in added sugar. However, some experts debate whether chocolate contains enough of these compounds to trigger a psychological response ( 11, 12). Its sugar may improve mood since it’s a quick source of fuel for your brain ( 11, 12).įurthermore, it may release a cascade of feel-good compounds, such as caffeine, theobromine, and N-acylethanolamine - a substance chemically similar to cannabinoids that has been linked to improved mood ( 11, 12). summaryįatty fish like salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may lower your risk of depression.Ĭhocolate is rich in many mood-boosting compounds. Given that a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of salmon provides 2,260 mg of EPA and DHA, eating this fish a few times per week is a great way to get these fats into your diet ( 10). While research is mixed, one review of clinical trials showed that in some studies, consuming omega-3’s in the form of fish oil lower depression scores ( 8).Īlthough there’s no standard dose, most experts agree that most adults should get at least 250–500 mg of combined EPA and DHA per day ( 9). Omega-3s contribute to the fluidity of your brain’s cell membrane and appear to play key roles in brain development and cell signaling ( 5, 6, 7). All Rights Reserved.Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of essential fats that you must obtain through your diet because your body can’t produce them on its own.įatty fish like salmon and albacore tuna are rich in two types of omega-3s - docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) - that are linked to lower levels of depression ( 5, 6, 7).

The Metal Crypt - Crushing Posers Since 1999 Latest 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Various Books/Zines Review: High Spirits (reviewed by MetalMike) Review: Hard to Stop (reviewed by MetalMike) Review: Another Night (reviewed by MetalMike) But as you dig into the band's catalog, expect to hear more of the same from a band that might be getting stuck in a rut just a little. If this is your first experience with High Spirits, and you enjoy the Hard Rock end of the NWOBHM spectrum, You Are Here should work fine for you. Not that a band has to radically change their sound but to avoid getting boring a little branching out or a step up in the songwriting would be good, and I hear neither on You Are Here. You Are Here could easily be Another Night, Vol. What I'm not hearing on this release is any progression from the things they've done before. If you liked High Spirits' previous albums, you won't hate You Are Here. The rest of the band is solid as they play traditional tunes with mainly verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus construction. Black's high, clear vocals aren't necessarily the best but not being perfect was something that made a lot of those classic 80s albums special. Musically, You Are Here stays true to the Hard Rock/NWOBHM style the band has employed on their prior releases. Artwork is similarly vague and consists of a map of a subway system on the cover of the band's second proper album, You Are Here (I thought it was Chicago's, but a quick Google search proved I'm no Sherlock Holmes).

Main man Chris Black keeps much about this band under wraps as he wants people to listen with their ears, not with their eyes, though now that they are playing live more and have a Facebook presence, more is being revealed. Chicago's High Spirits is a band I've been following since their self-titled release in 2009, which combined the songs from their earlier demos.

High spirits you are here