Mood+Food

​ ** "The wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings. Let food be your medicine." **

 // - Hippocrates //


 * __Influence Food Can Have On Your Mood __**

Have you ever heard the expression "you are what you eat"? What you put into your body can play an important role in how your body reacts, not only physically but emotionally. Bad foods can equal bad moods. What you eat has an effect on your mood. Most food related research focuses on foods that affect serotonin levels in your brain such as: Oysters, Turkey,Squid, Banana, Plum, Clams, and Milk.

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Many of us will choose carbohydrate-rich foods like:­ bread, pasta, and potatoes ­ when we are feeling down. People with Seasonal Affect Disorder, premenstrual syndrome, perimenopause, and nicotine withdrawal will also tend to chose serotonin-boosting carbohydrates.

Many Researchers find that when people diet they often get depressed two weeks into a low-carbohydrate diet because their serotonin levels are down. Don’t cut out carbs, just choose healthier ones.

One certain food is known for giving us a mood “high” and that is chocolate. Another major influence in Mood is Caffeine. Too much caffeine can make you anxious, restless and irritable.

Science cannot explain all of our personal food-mood associations. Some foods affect our moods just because of our behavioral conditioning or our childhood associations.

__ Circadian Rhythms __ Circadian Rhythms also have an effect of eating and performance these rhythms influence when individuals are more active, and when they are more likely to be sleepy. Research indicates there are different eating patterns for individuals with different rhythms.

These eating patterns can enhance energy levels and performance. For example, "morning people" are usually at their best and most focused during the early hours of the day. Although breakfast is important, what foods these people eat becomes more important at lunch and throughout the afternoon. The energy level of a morning person begins to drop during the afternoon, and evening is their least alert and productive time. Thus, what they choose to eat at lunch and for snacks can make a difference in how they feel later in the day

Foods that Help: Omega 3& fatty acids like Fish or Walnuts, although they cannot cure depression, they have be known to help protect against becoming depressed. Omegas 3’s have shown to affect the Neurotransmitters pathways to the brain. Eating breakfast can make for more energy through-out the day, stabilizing your mood, helping your metabolism and some research has shown even improving your memory. So don’t skip on breakfast. Get Enough Vitamin D: Increase levels of serotonin in the brain, Those suffering with seasonal affective disorder have shown significant improvement with their depression when they started to receive more Vitamin D. (Source:Medicinenet, 2010, Para. 4)

Alcohol and your Mood Alcohol can make you laugh or it can make you cry, angry or happy. How can alcohol have all these different effects on people?

The human brain is made up of about 100 billion nerve cells (also known as neurons). Alcohol affects the neurons in the brain so when alcohol is Consumed and enters into your body, it goes through the stomach and has to be digested. If you have eaten a meal before drinking, it will take longer for the alcohol to get to the brain because most of the alcohol will be absorbed into the food. If you haven't eaten, the alcohol can get into the blood stream much quicker and go straight to the brain.

<span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alcohol changes the way your neurons respond to the chemicals in your brain, which is what creates a difference in your mood and overall behaviour. Since alcohol is a depressant this substance should be closely monitored with people who suffer from mood disorders and alcoholism.

<span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But on the other hand, Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism have a high co morbidity rate, and although more research needs to be done, some specialists are now saying that “withdrawals from alcohol can trigger bi-polar symptoms”. <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';">(Tohen et al. 1998)

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