How the Food We Eat Affects our Mood?

 

How the Food We Eat Affects our Mood?

Food can affect us in different ways, some good and some bad. For example, eating too much junk food can make us feel sluggish, sick and tired and increase our chances of having weight-related health problems. On the other hand, eating fresh fruits and vegetables helps us to feel more energetic and healthy. This article examines three different kinds of foods that we commonly eat and how they affect our moods in positive or negative ways.

Food is fuel

Your body needs food to produce all of its essential hormones, enzymes, and neurotransmitters. Keep your brain firing on all cylinders by making sure you're eating right. No matter what type of mood you're in, if you're low on energy it'll be tough to feel any other way. To keep your mood in check, make sure you’re getting plenty of protein from lean meats like chicken and turkey. Also try packing more fruits and veggies into your diet—they’re packed with vitamins and nutrients that will give you a natural boost. If that's not enough, just remember that next time you find yourself feeling down about something: everything tastes better when dipped in hot sauce!

Pay attention to your emotional health

When you’re in a funk, try to look at your diet as well as stress levels. People who don’t eat well and/or exercise often complain of brain fog, or feeling slightly dazed. Often it has nothing to do with an actual health problem; rather it’s related to bad diet and lack of sleep. If you feel constantly out of sorts, make sure your diet is including foods like fish, nuts, eggs (choline helps with cognitive development), and leafy greens (carotenoids are important for healthy eyesight). Your gut also plays a huge role in overall mental health—fiber is essential for calming your bowels down so consider adding some digestive enzymes if you struggle with constipation.

Your mood depends on what you put in your body

Your diet is one of many factors that affect your mood. Certain foods can naturally improve and elevate your mood, while others can contribute to irritability and stress. Some natural food sources, including carbohydrates and proteins, have specific hormones that trigger happy feelings in your brain. For example, carbohydrates release serotonin, a chemical that promotes feelings of happiness; proteins trigger endorphins—the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters—while decreasing stress hormones; and fats boost dopamine levels, which create an overall sense of pleasure. Some simple ways to take advantage of these mood-boosting effects include choosing healthier alternatives like complex carbs over sugar or increasing your intake of fruits, veggies, lean meats and fish for more protein options.

What Is a Neurotransmitter?

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals between brain cells (neurons). It’s a bit of an oversimplification, but it is generally agreed that neurotransmitters affect mood. The main neurotransmitter responsible for mood is dopamine, which plays a role in feelings of pleasure and reward. There are other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, that affect mood to a lesser extent; these are often classified as modulatory or neuroregulators. These modulatory neurotransmitters ensure that levels of dopamine—the main transmitter involved in mood—remain within certain limits; some scientists believe we experience depression when there is a lack of serotonin or norepinephrine in certain areas of the brain.

List of Mood-Boosting Foods (And Their Neurotransmitters)

* List is based on neurotransmitters that may impact mood. Neurotransmitters (NTs) are natural chemicals found in your brain, spinal cord, and throughout your body. They can be thought of as chemical messengers between neurons—neurons in one region send messages to neighboring neurons via NTs across synapses. Some NTs carry messages within parts of your body; others carry messages from cell to cell in your brain.

Tips For Eating A Happy Diet

Many of us know that eating a healthy diet is important, but we often forget how profoundly different food can affect your mood. Eating a happy diet means giving yourself what you need to be in tip-top shape. Getting started can seem daunting—what are some foods that make me feel good? What foods should I steer clear of? How do I ensure I’m getting all of my nutrition needs met? It doesn’t have to be complicated; there are just a few simple guidelines to follow for making sure you’re on track with your health goals. Here’s how...