Fatty Fish

While walnuts offer one of the richest plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids, there is no food source more rich in these essential nutrients than fatty fish, like salmon, Arctic char, sardines, halibut, trout and tuna. The fatty acids in these fish are great for boosting brain health, but they also have countless overall health benefits, including protecting against heart disease and possibly preventing stroke. The body does not manufacture these fatty acids, so eating foods rich in these nutrients is essential for overall health, as well as our state of mind.

Low-Fat Dairy

Want foods rich in calcium, vitamin D and protein? Try skim milk, yogurt, low-fat cheeses and other low-fat dairy products. These have several benefits -- including bone health, cardiovascular health and immune system function -- but they also are linked to easing symptoms of depression. Low-fat dairy is the richest dietary source of both calcium and vitamin D, along with specific peptides or proteins that induce a sense of well-being and relaxation, according to an interview with Shawn Talbott, Ph.D., a nutritional biochemist, for Everyday Health.

Whole Grains

While some people have a gluten sensitivity that can trigger depression or worsen symptoms of depression, healthy, high-fiber carbohydrates found in whole grains can help those without a gluten sensitivity ease their symptoms. Whole grains like brown rice, oatmeal, sweet potatoes and whole-wheat pasta all aid in serotonin release, which boosts mood and eases anxiety.

Green Tea

Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants that provide the body with health benefits, but its funk-busting properties are tied to an amino acid it contains called theanine. Theanine, found naturally in tea leaves, provides tea drinkers with a feeling of relaxation and helps them de-stress. While coffee drinkers may experience an increase in anxiety as a result of caffeine intake, tea drinkers more often report a feeling of “relaxed alertness.”