24 October 2008, 19:43 PM
  • With winter nights drawing in, shoppers are stocking up on morale boosting foods, according to Waitrose.

The supermarket reveals that sales of products helping the body produce feel-good hormone, serotonin, are increasing. Oily fish is among the popular lines with demand growing 31% year-on-year.

Similarly, sales of foods rich in protein and fibre such as cannellini and black-eyed beans have risen as much as 33% compared with this time last year. As well as being great value and a filling staple, pulses are known to have a soothing effect by stimulating serotonin production.

“After what has been a rather wet summer, shoppers are taking stock and opting for foods that will elevate their moods and keep the Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) at bay,” says Damian Keep, grocery buyer at Waitrose. “We have seen an unprecedented surge in demand for fish, fruit and beans as consumers try to look on the bright side of life this winter.”