Eating seeds is more likely to raise your mood than any other food, according to research. Seeds have been shown to improve people’s wellbeing and moods more than cakes, sweets and chocolates.

Despite this, seven in ten women and one in two men enjoy sweet treats when they are stressed or looking for a mood rise. Just one in seven people choose fruits, vegetables or whole grains that are shown to fight stress and raise low moods.

The poll of 2,000 people found that half ate unhealthy comfort food when they wanted to lift their mood, but only 28 per cent turned to friends or family to feel better. Experts warn that many people are “eating their way to sadness” by eating sweets and junk food.

Pumpkin seeds topped a top-ten list of mood-raising foods lined out by dietitian Sarah Schenker and food psychologist Christy Fergusson. The other items were salmon, rice, quinoa, chickpeas, coconut, asparagus, spinach and beans.

The research found men are more likely than women to turn to specific mood-increasing foods such as oats, quinoa and brown rice at times of stress or when they are looking to improve their health. Perhaps worryingly, women are twice as likely as men to buy their friends or colleagues sugary foods such as chocolate or biscuits to comfort them, which may make their problems worse.

Dr Sarah Schenker, a clinical dietitian, said: “It’s shocking to see wholesome eating habits go out the window when we face a challenge in the day or a short while in a routine. This is when healthy eating is most important. We need to replace the short-lived highs we get from refined sugar and processed fat with healthy choices and long-term shopping and eating habits. This starts with recognizing the types of food that can provide nutritional and psychological benefits, those which are scientifically proven to balance your mood.”

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1.What do most people eat to raise their mood besides seeds?

A Vegetables.

B Whole grains.

C Chocolate.

D Fruits.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据文章第二段可知，有十分之七的人（尤其是女人）喜欢吃甜的东西，其中包括巧克力。

2.What is the concern of the experts?

A Eating seeds is more likely to raise one’s mood than any other food.

B Many people are eating unhealthy comfort food to raise their mood.

C Very few people turn to their family or friends to increase their mood.

D Many more women than men rely on sugary treats to feel better.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据文章第三段Experts warn that many people are “eating their way to sadness” by eating sweets and junk food可知，专家担心的是太多的人吃甜食和垃圾食品，他们正在走向“悲伤之路”。

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A More women like to eat sweet food than men.

B Office is the good place for people to share sugary food.

C One can raise his/her mood by sharing food with colleagues.

D Sweet food is more likely to worsen one’s stressed mood.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据文章第五段第二句Perhaps worryingly, … which may make their problems worse可以判断，专家之所以担忧，是因为吃的甜食越多，越不利于缓解抑郁情绪。

4.What do the underlined words mean in the last paragraph?

A Get away from the house.

B Become less important.

C Get out through the window.

D Become more effective.

解析：选B。B 猜测词义题。根据语境可知，当人们遇到困难的时候，他们很容易抛弃健康的饮食习惯，不顾一切地吃一些垃圾食品，以求获得好的感觉。由此判断，go out the window意为“不被重视；无效”。

5.What can be the best title of the passage?

A Seeds Are the Best Choice to Raise Your Mood.

B Advice on What to Eat to Increase Your Mood.

C Poll Study on Mood-increasing Foods.

D Most People Enjoy Sugary Food to Feel Better.

解析：选A。A 主旨大意题。通读全文可知，文章主要介绍了嗑南瓜籽有利于人们克服抑郁情绪的研究。