Ever Wondered How the Food You Eat Effects Your Mood!?

The way you feel can be effected by many every day foods. This is due to many factors and it is quite complex. However, blood sugar levels are thought to be one major factor together with nutritional deficiencies. Fluctuating blood sugar levels can result from eating at irregular times. Eating sugary foods or foods with a high 'glycemic load' can cause blood sugar levels to spike and this stimulates the pancreas to produce Insulin. Because Insulin promotes the breakdown of sugar, the levels drop again quickly. This can have effects on mood such as irritability, headaches, or lethargy. Therefore, keeping blood sugar levels stable is important for maintaining a good mood. By eating low GL/GI foods containing high amounts of fibre, you will slow the breakdown of sugar and prevent mood swings.

Two often abused substances, alcohol and caffeine, cause unwanted effects on blood sugar levels as well as making sleeping peacefully at night more difficult. Avoiding consumption of these substances in excess will help maintain a positive attitude. Avoiding foods that have a high Glycemic Load will also help you with sleeping at night by avoiding adrenaline surges caused by dips in blood sugar levels.

One food group, chocolate, contains a chemical called Phenyl Ethylamine that has an uplifting effect on the brain due to it's effects on dopamine. However, the high levels of sugar found in most common and commercial brands of chocolate will have the opposite effect due to the blood sugar low. The cocao found in chocolate has countless other health benefits besides the dopamine uplifting effects. Opt for raw cocoa if possible or dark chocolate that contains above 70% cocoa.

As an alte
ative to sugary snacks you may want to consider eating fruits high in vitami
C, as these can have a positive effect on mood without the disadvantages of eating sweets. Eating foods such as fish, avacados and chicken also give you high levels of Tryptophane which is an amino acid that has a similar effect to the chemical found in chocolate.

We all know how much most children in general love sugary sweets. Educating them about the alte
atives like fruits and more complex carbohydrate snacks can help them avoid sugar induced mood swings, strops and tantrums. Avoiding certain foods with colourings such as orange cordial, which contains tatrazine (E102) can help to keep their moods on a more consistent and stable level.

Although the chemical balance in the brain is complex and the food we eat alone is not a cure for depression; getting a lot of exercise, eating a balanced diet of fresh fruits, vegetables and other complex carbohydrates can promote the release of the feel good chemicals endorphins. Endorphins are the brain chemical responsible for good moods and general energy and well being.

Depression is often linked to a greater loss in appetite, often due to deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals such as Zink and B Vitamins. Eating nuts and food types with high levels of Vitamin B,such as bananas, can help help restore the body to ideal levels.