The food we eat can significantly affect our mood. And we are not talking about the feeling of guilt after eating junk food or carbohydrate-containing products when being a diet. For example, low levels of sugar can contribute to mood swings and even depression, whereas consuming healthy fats can help combat stress and anxiety.
What Is Special about Our Eating Habits?
It is believed that food has a different effect on the mood of people of different ages; it can cause not only positive emotions but also stress or irritation in people. This is the conclusion American scientists from Binghamton University have come to. During the study, people from different countries filled out online questionnaires, where they described their eating habits, the foods they ate, and the psychological state they experienced. Just like reducing the workload by asking the agency to write my essay now, balancing your ration will lead to high spirits.
After analyzing the results, scientists found that the mood of people aged 18 to 29 years was significantly affected by the consumption of meat. Thus, regularly eating meat leads to the accumulation of chemicals in the brain (primarily serotonin and dopamine), which cause a feeling of pleasure and high spirits. At the same time, young people who ate meat less than three times a week and at the same time did not go in for sports are more prone to mental disorders.
Based on the results obtained, people over 30 are recommended to consume more food that contains antioxidants and to refrain from products that inadequately stimulate the nervous system, in particular, coffee. In such a way, they can avoid mood swings and mental disorders.
Chemical Reactions
No wonder that many people like sweets! Tryptophan, an amino acid found in chocolate, is used by the brain to create serotonin, which leads to a good mood and relieves stress. Another substance found in chocolate, phenylethylamine, stimulates pleasure centers in the brain and enhances a sense of well-being, a feeling of love.
In addition to chocolate, there are more useful ways to get your daily dose of pleasant chemical substances. Excellent sources of them are turkey and chicken, as well as other protein-rich foods: dairy products, legumes and nuts, as well as pineapples, bananas, avocados, carrots, and spinach. Vegetarians should include proteins in their diet: nuts, tofu, and eggs are good sources of protein, which need to be mixed with cereals.
Sweets and Your Health
You can achieve a rapid rise in serotonin by eating something sweet or rich in carbohydrates, such as a piece of cake or white bread. High insulin levels lead to a dramatic drop in blood sugar, which, in turn, causes mood swings and obesity. Instead of eating sweets, tt is better to consume natural carbohydrates, such as rolled oats and stripes, fresh fruit or dried fruits.
Fish Will Make You Happy
Oily fish is another excellent product for improving mood. Furthermore, it protects against cardiovascular diseases and arthritis. Experts believe that people suffering from depression feel better after consuming more omega-3 acids, which are contained in such fatty fish. The study showed that people from countries with high consumption of fatty fish are less likely to suffer from depression.
Vitamins Will Improve Your Mood
If you take vitamins daily, the risk that you suffer from depression and mood swings is reduced to a minimum. Together with other elements, vitamins provide the brain with a balanced amount of necessary substances for its smooth functioning. For example, you need vitamins B6 and C to convert tryptophan to serotonin; B vitamins are essential for mental health. Many people who suffer from depression do not have enough vitamins from this group. It is meat, fish, mushrooms, lentils, eggs, avocados, legumes, whole grains, bananas, dairy products, and dark green leafy vegetables that are a good source of vitamins.
Simple Ways to Be Always Happy
- Avoid “stressing” products – Excessive amounts of “stressing” food, which is high in sugar, make you feel tired, irritable, and depressed. It is recommended to avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea, and chocolate.
- Breakfast is important – When you wake up, the blood sugar level is low, which leads to poor memory and concentration. A good breakfast will help your organism function more efficiently.
- Do not overdo it with diets – Reducing fatty and sugary foods is good for health, but don’t go too far. Diets that drastically reduce all types of fats and lead to depression.
The food we eat influences not only our health but also our mood. Some products activate us, while others make us nervous. Therefore, it is highly important to plan our ration.
The post How Does Food Affect Our Mood? appeared first on Educate Inspire Change.