An Easy Baked Berry Crisp: Can This Sweet Dish Help Chase the Blues Away? | Mental Health Recipes

With berry season quickly approaching (or in some places, already arrived!), here’s a recipe that will give you a reason to get picking (or simply pick up some fresh berries from the market).

On top of this recipe using in-season fruit, it’s also jam-packed with loads of goodness for our bodies and mental health. 

Berries, especially blueberries, are jam-packed with compounds called antioxidants.

Antioxidants are powerful, protecting our body from harm caused by free radicals (natural byproducts of metabolism). Berries aren’t just mother nature’s candy! They are actually very beneficial for our overall health.

So, what’s this baked berry crisp all about?

Baked Berry Crisp to Satisfy Your Tastebuds and Mood

For this one, you’ll need a pie plate and plenty of berries. This is a completely guilt-free indulgence that you can bring to your next social gathering or simply make on the regular if you have a sweet tooth (same!). 

I think we can all acknowledge that this berry crisp is a much better option to satisfy our sweet cravings than store-bought chocolate or candy. At least, when made at home, we know exactly what goes into it. 

How Can This Baked Berry Crumble Enhance Your Mood?

Well, for one, it tastes amazing. But yumminess aside, it also has some scientific backing as to why you actually might feel better after having a serving of this treat!

1. Berries offer tons of good for your brain and mood.

Research indicates that berries offer neuroprotective effects, can prevent age-related brain changes, and improve both motor and cognitive functions.

They also may:

• reduce inflammation
• help with cell survival
• enhance the creation of new neural pathways

In other words, berries are ultra-good for your brain health and, thus, mental health.

All of this is huge when it comes to our ability to think clearly and see new perspectives (which can drastically alter our mood). Many experts even call berries, specifically blueberries, the superfood when it comes to improving mental health.

Even beyond antioxidants, berries also have a high nutritional value containing less sugar than other fruits and being rich in:

• vitamin K
• vitamin C
• fiber
• manganese

They are also about 85% water, providing ample hydration, which improves blood flow across the body and brain, spilling over into enhancing a variety of functions including the brain and how we feel.

2. Oats bring the fiber!

While berries also have fiber, this is a very satiating dish also, thanks to the oats in it.

Because of their fiber content, oats may help stabilize blood sugar levels and thus, stabilize energy and mood. 

Oats also have zinc, which provides energy and supports good brain health. It’s also theorized that oats may help improve anxiety and depression symptoms by enhancing serotonin production.

The other good thing about oats is that they are gluten-free and vegan-friendly. The flour in this recipe can be replaced with oat flour, if needed.

3. Cinnamon also has a role in improving your mental wellness.

Research suggests that cinnamon may help improve anxiety and depression symptoms.

It’s also been widely studied for improving learning and memory. It’s thought to do all the above by reducing inflammation, which enhances overall brain and mental function. So, don’t forget to add that cinnamon to this recipe!

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