How Food Affects Your Mood

  • Category: Food
  • January 21, 2019

Nutrition is important in mental function and certainly plays a role in how we handle the stressors which hit us on a daily basis. Certain foods may be able to add a little lift or a small moment of calm to your day. A cup of coffee in the morning is a nice push into alertness, but eight cups can give the jitters. A wholesome breakfast—such as boiled eggs and wholegrain toast can do wonders for your mood, concentration, and performance.

Essential fatty acids may also influence the way we feel. Research suggests that they may affect mood by keeping brain cell membranes flexible and fluid and enabling neurotransmitters to signal effectively. Low levels of omega-3 are associated with a higher risk of depression –the lower the level, the more severe the mood disturbance. Essential fatty acids can be obtained from oily fish, fish oil supplements, and seeds and seed oils such as linseed. This should be another reason to eat those oil-rich fish.

Cravings lead to snacking and are more pronounced when people are stressed, depressed, or angry. But food does not solve emotional issues. Consider whether emotions are involved in your cravings and if yes, then you need to find other solutions to those nagging issues.

Healthy Snacking Tips

  • Avoid working out on an empty stomach and choose high protein snacks, half hour before you head to the gym. Unsalted raw nuts, low calorie protein snack bars are great options to avoid cravings after you get back from working out.
  • Reach for a fruit when a sugar craving hits. You will get fiber and nutrients along with some sweetness.
  • Once in a while, eat a bit of what you are craving since this will help you steer clear of feeling denied. Lots of ‘sinful’ foods are now available in bite-sized portions for the health conscious.
  • Combining the ‘craving food’ with a healthy meal will keep a check on portion control. Try dipping fruit in chocolate sauce or peanut putter to ensure that your
    craving is taken care of as well as get some healthy nutrients from the fruits.
  • Learn to satisfy thirst with water. Water fills the stomach between meals and dilutes the metabolic wastes generated from the breakdown of fat. It meets the water need that was formerly met by eating extra food.