50% of people have this very unhealthy habit… Do you?

When I’ve had a tough day, I reach for a glass of wine. I know it’s not healthy but hey, it’s habit! Based on a huge poll by rice brand Tilda, I’m not alone in choosing something very unhealthy when I’m feeling down. Over 50 per cent of people surveyed turn to unhealthy comfort food when they wanted to lift their mood, whereas only 28 per cent turn to friends and family, according to the findings.

Also, worryingly, women are around twice more likely as men to buy high sugar foods to comfort themselves or friends.

This is concerning because effectively, we’re eating ourselves unhappy. High sugar and highly processed foods often make us feel sluggish and while they give us a rush in the short term, the crash in the long term is incredibly unhappy.

This cycle is also unhealthy as for many Australians physical appearance, particularly weight, is something that affects our mood negatively more often than it does positively.

So how can we change this? It’s simple – we just eat ourselves happy!

It is a real thing and there are certain foods that do help us to think more positively and be happier.

According to the Daily Mail, the list of mood boosting foods that we should be eating when we’re feeling down include:

1. Pumpkin seeds
2. Chia seeds
3. Salmon
4. Rice
5. Quinoa
6. Chickpeas
7. Coconut
8. Asparagus
9. Spinach
10. Beans

Dr Sarah has said that these foods provide a balance of both nutritional and psychological benefits and these foods create a healthy platform so “happy chemicals” known as neurotransmitters can be created and released into the body.

Our happiness affects many things, particularly our mood and our sleep habits so if you’re feeling down, reach for a handful of “happy food” like pumpkin seeds and feel yourself improving one step at a time.

Tell us, are you guilty of eating unhealthy food when you’re feeling down? What do you snack on?