Grow a Mood-Boosting Garden: 10 Antidepressant Foods and How to Grow Them

Ward off bad moods with a mood-boosting backyard garden.

Just being outside, whether you’re gardening, exercising, or simply taking a stroll, is a great mood booster. But getting your hands dirty in a garden is so effective at combating depression that it’s often used in “horticultural therapy” at psychiatric hospitals. If you feel like your energy levels are dropping or you’re just too stressed out at work, plant yourself a good-mood garden, and get the benefits not just of a little garden therapy but of all the healthy foods linked to lower rates of depression. Certain vegetables and herbs are rich in antidepressant compounds and minerals that can do everything from taking the edge off a bad day to curing full-blown depression.

Here’s a guide to get you started—10 of the most potent antidepressant foods and herbs and how to grow them anywhere. CONTINUE READING »