Boost Your Serotonin Levels With This Easy Turmeric Chicken Recipe (2024)

As you may already know, low levels of serotonin are associated with depression and anxiety.

Undeniably, this neurotransmitter is very important for optimal mental health and our general mood.

Surprisingly, around 90-95% of serotonin is produced in the gut. In other words, for proper balance of this neurotransmitter, your diet plays a significant role. In fact, by taking care of your gut via the foods you eat, you can boost serotonin production and, in turn, improve your mental well-being.

So, how can you do that?

Well, we have one recipe that can not only improve your gut health but also potentially reduce inflammation throughout your entire body. This simple turmeric recipe is delicious and offers tons of punch for your mental and physical well-being.

Below, we’ll go over how you can make this recipe as well as detail the many benefits!

The Ultimate 15-Minute Turmeric Chicken Recipe

This spicy and ultra-easy recipe takes next-to-no time. You’ll barely even remember cooking it.

So, if you’re in a mental funk, this shouldn’t be too overbearing. In fact, we recommend making double or triple the batch even so that you can have leftovers for days after without the need to cook up a storm in your kitchen!

Easy Turmeric Chicken

Prep time:

5 mintues

Cook time:

10 minutes

Total time:

15 minutes

Recipe Category:

Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons of olive oil
• 1.5 lbs. of boneless chicken breasts (cut into cubes)
• 1 ¼ teaspoon of turmeric
• ¾ teaspoon of ground cumin
• ¾ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (optional)
• Juice of ½ of a lemon (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat a skillet on medium heat, then add the olive oil.
2. Season the chicken with all of the spice in a bowl, making sure to coat them evenly before placing them on the pan.
3. Place the chicken on the pan. Heat until cooked, about 8-10 minutes. Make sure to stir occasionally!
4. Squeeze the lemon over the chicken, remove from heat, and serve!
5. Enjoy on top of rice or with a side of veggies.

You’ll definitely want to add some carbohydrates to balance out this meal. Rice is a great (and easy) option. Vegetables on the side of this chicken dish are also wonderful to add, such as asparagus, green beans, salad, and more!

Related Article: 10 Stress-Reducing Foods to Help You Unwind and Relax

Yield (servings):

4

How Does This Chicken Turmeric Dish Help Improve Your Mental Wellness?

It does this in more than a few ways!

In particular, turmeric is truly the star of the show here. So, let’s dig a bit deeper.

How does turmeric help improve your mental health? What else does this recipe have to offer?

1. Turmeric lowers inflammation.

Turmeric has the incredibly powerful ability to reduce oxidative stress in the body.

This is all thanks to its active compound, curcumin. Curcumin works like other antioxidants by protecting the body from harmful free radicals, which are a natural byproduct of metabolism. It’s thought that this spice can help lower depression-associated inflammation in this way.

2. Turmeric may contribute to a healthier body weight.

Some findings on turmeric further associated this spice with a healthy BMI and lower body weight. This can further contribute to mental well-being as our physical wellness undeniably spills over into our mental wellness.

3. Turmeric may improve serotonin levels.

Studies show how the active component curcumin helps elevate serotonin and dopamine levels in the body.

Curcumin may do this in a variety of ways. For example, since it helps lower inflammation, this may improve gut health, enhancing the intestine’s production of serotonin, which makes up the majority of serotonin in the body.

Curcumin may also influence other neurotransmitters in the brain, leading to improved serotonin and dopamine levels. In fact, turmeric has been used for centuries in China and India to help alleviate stress, as well as other infections or illnesses.

4. Ample protein promotes good blood sugar balance.

Proper blood sugar balance helps keep the stress hormone cortisol in check.

If cortisol rises and stays chronically high, this can lead to a number of mental issues and imbalances. You might feel more stressed and moodier than usual. However, protein offers a way to balance carbs at every meal.

Protein digests slower, allowing the steady absorption of sugar into the blood which supplies the body with steady energy as opposed to high spikes and low dips. On top of this, protein is the building block for a variety of hormones and neurotransmitters, which can help regulate your mood.

Related Article:

Try This Turmeric Chicken for a Better Mood & a Filling Meal!

Compared to other chicken recipes, this one is really really easy!

It also takes very little time and effort. Make a batch for your upcoming week so you can take care of yourself in the best way possible. Grab some veggies or rice to go with it, and you have the perfect meal.

Read Next: Overwhelmed By Trying to “Eat Healthy?” Try This Easy BBQ Recipe Instead

Credit:RafalStachura