Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder where you can feel depressed one moment and experience mania in another moment. Treatments for bipolar disorder include therapy and medications. Diet can also improve symptoms and help manage episodes. Here are nutrients that can help.

Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids help to stabilize mood and can help people who feel depressed. Omega-3 fatty acids are very good for your heart as well and promote brain health. You should eat foods such as mackerel, cold-water fish, flaxseeds, sardines, salmon, tuna, eggs, halibut, herring, and trout.

Tryptophan
Tryptophan, an amino acid, helps boost the production of serotonin in the body. This has been linked to improved mood, calming the mind, reducing depression symptoms, and reduction in mania symptoms. Tryptophan is found in various foods such as cheese, turkey, tofu, and eggs.

Probiotics
Research shows that gut bacteria have an effect on our mental health. The good bacteria release serotonin while the bad bacteria release norepinephrine. To improve the good bacteria in your gut, you should eat foods rich in probiotics such as kombucha, miso, yogurt, kimchi, and kefir.

Selenium-rich foods
Foods rich in selenium promote brain health, and certain studies show that it helps to stabilize your mood. Research has found a link between selenium deficiency and depression. You should eat selenium-rich foods such as turkey, ham, Brazil nuts, sardines, steak, beef liver, shrimp, and halibut.

Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate has a calming effect, and so it can be useful for people with bipolar disorder. You should aim to eat about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day as this can help reduce stress. You should avoid dark chocolate that is loaded with sugar or has trans fats in its ingredients.

Nuts
Most people don’t eat enough magnesium, and if that is the case with you, then munching on nuts can help. You should focus on eating nuts such as cashews, almonds, and peanuts as they can help reduce mania symptoms and stress. These particular nuts are rich sources of magnesium.

Whole grains
Whole grains can have a calming effect on your mind because carbohydrates lead to serotonin production. This brain chemical helps you feel like you are in control and reduces anxiety. You should eat foods such as brown rice, oatmeal, whole-grain crackers, quinoa, and whole-grain pasta.

Saffron
Saffron is an effective spice that has been found to have antidepressant properties. You can put saffron in your food or use its extract. Saffron helps improve other symptoms such as stress and anxiety in people who have bipolar disorder.

Beans
Beans are nutrient-dense as they contain fiber and magnesium. Magnesium has been linked to decreasing mania symptoms and can help reduce depression too. You should add soybeans, lima beans, lentils, and chickpeas to your diet as they can help improve your bipolar disorder symptoms.

Herbal tea
Although more research needs to be done on tea and its effects, some studies point to herbal tea and its benefits in calming the mind. You can have chamomile extract as it helps reduce anxiety and depression. In the past, herbal tea was used to cure insomnia, stomach problems, and anxiety.