Food = Mood

So, we all know that it is true, even if we haven't taken the time to really notice. The foods that we eat affect the way that we feel, and they affect the way we interact with others, i.e. our mood. It has to do with chemistry -- and I wish that I understood it all better... thus my internet research adventure of the day from which you can benefit. (a great blog about this here, as well)

The food we eat produces chemical reactions in our bodies that affect hormone levels, for better or worse. It all comes down to neurotransmitters in the brain - and the way certain foods either stimulate or prevent their release. Neurotramitters are chemical messengers in the brain that carry messages from one cell to another. Controlling and paying careful attention to the chemicals we are putting in our bodies with different foods, and trying to keep it all balanced, will keep our moods more even-keel, as well. When we're stressed out, for whatever reason, we tend to crave comfort foods - traditionally buttery, sweet, and rich.

This happens because cortisol (hormone) is released into the blood when we're stressed out, and that triggers hormones that stimulate our appetites, and those hormones decrease serotonin - the hormone typically associated with happy feel-good moods. Then, your body wants carb-rich foods to get back into balance and decrease the appetite hormones, thus returning serotonin to its former state. So - although you are craving rich foods when you get stressed out, you can satisfy those cravings with healthy macro-snacks like rice crackers, whole grains, hummus, vegetables, and not have the side effects associated with eating too many sweets.

The carbs in sugary sweets increase the levels of serotonin to unnaturally high levels, and as soon as the sugar high wears off, the serotonin goes back down and it can feel like a real "low". You basically send your body on a roller coaster of emotions and hormone levels, which ultimately stresses out organs like the liver and kidneys, which cleanse the blood. Carbs found in brown rice, buckwheat, and whole-grains have a very calming effect because they have a low glycemic index, meaning they promote the slow release of serotonin rather than the rapid release that you get from foods with a high glycemic index like sugar, white flour, white rice, or a bagel.

By eating protein-rich foods like beans, whole grains, and soy products, you give your body tyrosine which your body makes into dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, helping you to be alert and focused on the tasks at hand. Omega-3 rich foods also raise serotonin levels in the brain, thus making you feel happier. High-fat meals stay in your stomach longer -- and that makes you feel sluggish because it diverts blood flow away from the rest of your body for a much longer time than a low-fat meal.