• josh6506

A Vietnamese Diet To Fight Depression

When it comes to mental health, you might have heard people saying that it is all in the head. To be honest, it is not exactly all true. The production of essential neurotransmitters that impact our happiness and mood, like dopamine and serotonin, is affected by our food and lifestyle choices.

While it is vital to consume a healthy, well-balanced diet even when you do not suffer from depression, it becomes all the more important when you do. Now we all know that Vietnamese food is both healthy and yummy. You won’t get any arguments there. But what exactly makes it suitable for your mental health? Let’s find out.

Yet, first, you should Click here to order online from Pho 78 Broomfield for the sake of science. After all, if you want to become a mindful eater, you should know what brain-healthy foods taste like.

Of course, there is no harm if you are simply craving some Vietnamese food. As comforting and delicious as a steaming bowl of Pho might seem like right now, we need to get back to the topic at hand.

Certain ingredients are heavily used in Vietnamese cuisine that can help restore your mental health if they are consumed enough to fulfill your intake of a particular vitamin or nutrient. Keep reading.


Fish is a common ingredient in many Vietnamese dishes, which is excellent since salmon, mackerel, trout, tuna, and sardines are rich sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. Also, ocean fish are a rich source of Vitamin B12. Oysters and other shellfish are rich in Omega-3 fats, Vitamin B12 and Zinc.


Many Vietnamese dishes contain nuts, including but not limited to cashews. The most widely used, however, is peanuts. Peanuts are a rich source of Vitamin B3, Zinc, Selenium, and many other helpful nutrients.


Though not the same as beans, but Vietnamese heavily use bean sprouts in their soups and dishes. Also, some of their dishes contain bean paste. And beans are a source of protein, fiber, and folate. Beans help control sugar levels in the blood, which helps control depression.

Leafy Greens

Vietnamese cuisine is big on vegetables and herbs, and as is widely known, vegetables are great for health. Leafy green vegetables are a good source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is one of the three main types of omega-3 fatty acids. They also contain vitamins A, C, E, and K, phytochemicals, minerals, and many other nutrients.


Unlike in the rest of the world, tofu is not considered a meat alternative in Vietnam, so it is used in both vegetarian and meat dishes. Tofu is a rich source of Vitamin D, protein, calcium, iron, manganese, and phosphorous. It also supplies magnesium, copper, zinc, vitamin B1, and antioxidants.

Lean Meat

Lean meats like pork and beef that are common in Vietnamese cuisine are a substantial source of protein and other nutrients that make them ideal for consumption by depression patients.

Fermented Foods

Vietnamese Kimchi is a popular snack and side in Vietnam. It is good not just for mental health but also for a person's overall health because it directly improves the gut's function, which is where serotonin is produced.


Wood ear mushrooms, and in some cases black forest mushrooms, are often used in stir-fries, soups, rolls, and other dishes in Vietnam. Mushrooms are great in elevating serotonin production since they improve gut health and low sugar level.

These popular Vietnamese ingredients include either Selenium, Vitamin D, Omega-3, antioxidants, B vitamins, Zinc, Protein, or Probiotics, which are a necessary part of a depression-free diet.

Tip: Avoid sugar and caffeine.

Pho 78 Broomfield is a healthy dining restaurant that offers Vietnamese food ( including vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian options) for dine-in, take-out, delivery, and catering. All the food is made from scratch using the freshest ingredients in the market. Click here to place your order so that you can experience the deliciousness for yourself.

55 views0 comments