Freshen Your Palate With This Watermelon Summer Salad | Mental Health Recipes

Mmmmm Watermelon Summer Salad. Who knew that mood-boosting could be so delicious?

Get ready to meet the salad that’s about to become your summer BFF. With a perfect blend of sweet, savory, and some serious freshness, this Watermelon Summer Salad with mint and feta is the salad you’ll be bringing everywhere this summer!

Not only is it ultra-easy to make (you can throw it together in less than five minutes), but the flavors make it perfect for any hot day. Plus, it’s ultra-hydrating—but more on this in a minute.

Now, I’m not the first to rave about this recipe. In fact, I first tried it at my boyfriend’s parents’ home. It’s one of those recipes that’s so simple and so good.

• So, how can you make this delicious and easy summer salad?
• And how can it give your mental well-being a boost?

Let’s find out!

The Best (and Easiest) Thirst-Quenching Watermelon Summer Salad

When it comes to doing anything in the kitchen, I’m a huge fan of simplicity.

My boyfriend and I travel often, so we don’t always have the same kitchen utensils or appliances.

But recipes like this don’t require anything fancy, and they have few ingredients, making these easy to throw together without buying too many groceries.

Plus, if you’re not a huge fan of cooking, this is a good one to bring to a BBQ or a potluck this summer. It’s easy to make a lot of it without it taking tons of time or effort. So, let’s find out how you can make this easy watermelon, mint, and feta salad.

How This Watermelon Summer Salad Contributes to Better Mental Health

Let’s go through the ingredients one by one! 

The Hydrating (and Nutritious) Power of Watermelon

Watermelon is undeniably one of the most refreshing fruits.

This comes as no surprise since about 90% of the contents of watermelon is, well, water. This means it keeps you hydrated, which is critical for optimal brain function. In fact, even mild dehydration can negatively impact cognitive performance, energy levels, and mood.

While water won’t exactly cover all your fluid needs, it sure can help!

Additionally, it’s packed with many beneficial nutrients. For instance, watermelon is high in L-citrulline, an amino acid that can improve blood flow. Better circulation means more oxygen and nutrients reach your brain, potentially enhancing cognitive function and mood.

This summer fruit is also rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that may help reduce inflammation in the body, including the brain. Chronic inflammation has been linked to depression and other mental health issues, so consuming anti-inflammatory foods like watermelon could have protective effects.

Watermelon is also an excellent source of vitamin C, which plays a crucial role in the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These feel-good chemicals are essential for regulating mood, sleep, and appetite.

By supporting their production, watermelon may indirectly contribute to better mental health.

Lemon Adds a Lift

While there’s only a small amount in this recipe, lemons are rich in vitamin C, which, as mentioned earlier, is vital for neurotransmitter production. Additionally, the scent of lemon has been shown to have mood-enhancing properties. The bright, citrusy aroma can reduce stress and increase feelings of positivity.

Lemon juice also contains folate, a B vitamin that is crucial in producing mood-regulating neurotransmitters. Some studies have found links between folate deficiency and increased risk of depression, suggesting that maintaining adequate folate levels could support mental health.

Mint Gives Way to Even More Freshness

Inhaling the scent of mint can increase activity in the area of the brain responsible for alertness, potentially improving focus and reducing mental fatigue. In other words, even just being around this salad might have potential cognitive-enhancing effects.

Mint also contains rosmarinic acid, an antioxidant with anti-anxiety properties. Some studies suggest that consuming mint may help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Additionally, mint has traditionally been used to aid digestion, and a healthy gut is increasingly linked to better mental health through the gut-brain axis.

The Healthy Fats in Olive Oil Contribute to Better Brain Health

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and polyphenols, which have been associated with better cognitive function and reduced risk of depression.

Olive oil's high content of oleic acid has anti-inflammatory properties, which may help protect against neuroinflammation—a factor increasingly linked to depression and other mental health disorders.

Furthermore, studies suggest that a diet rich in olive oil, like the Mediterranean diet, may reduce the risk of depression and other chronic diseases.

Olive oil is also a good source of vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects brain cells from oxidative stress. This protection may help maintain cognitive function and potentially reduce the risk of mood disorders as we age.

Feta Offers a Bit of Protein

While I encourage you to enjoy this Watermelon Summer Salad alongside some protein, like chicken or salmon, feta cheese actually has a bit of protein itself. In turn, this can contribute to improved regulation of neurotransmitters and hormones, helping to stabilize mood and cognitive function.

Feta cheese is also rich in B vitamins, particularly B12. B12 deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of depression. Thus, including B12-rich foods like feta in your diet could support mental well-being.

Lastly, feta contains probiotics, beneficial bacteria that can support gut health. The growing field of research on the gut-brain axis suggests that a healthy gut microbiome can positively influence mood and mental health.

And probiotics feed the “good” bacteria in our guts, contributing to healthy digestion which cascades down the line toward improved mental health.

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