Is Food Connected To Mood?
Have you ever wondered why somedays we feel happy and other days grumpy? Or sad? What is our brain telling us? Could it be that we just had a really great day or maybe the stresses of life are getting us down?
Would you believe me if I told you the answer could be at the end of your fork? If you think about it, our brain is always in drive. It takes care of our thoughts, movements, heartbeat, and breathing. It’s in charge of our senses and requires a constant supply of fuel.
Have you ever put “cheap” gas into your car and it gave you trouble? Well, putting low-quality foods into your body is like using “cheap” gas; and eventually, there may be some trouble. Eating high-quality foods that contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants can nourish the brain creating an environment that fuels the body effectively. Our brain can be damaged if we ingest anything other than premium fuel. To break this down further, let’s get into what is low-quality foods and high-quality foods are.
Diets that are high in refined sugars are harmful to the brain. In addition to worsening the body’s regulation of insulin, they also promote inflammation and stress to the body. There are multiple studies that have found a correlation between a diet high in refined sugars and impaired brain function. Some of the worse symptoms are mood disorders, such as depression.
High-quality foods are those that come from as close to the source as possible. Clean eating, are foods that are recognizable and non-processed sugar laden foods, are what we should strive to consume. High quality foods also nourish the gut that affect brain health. There is a strong pathway to our gut health and our brain health. Our gut is often called our second brain. Maybe this is why we often go with our “gut” reaction.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate many things like sleep, appetite, moods and pain. Almost 95% of our serotonin is produce in the gastrointestinal tract (GI). The GI is loaded with millions of nerve cells that help guide our emotions. When the bacteria are good, we are protected with a strong barrier against toxins and “bad” bacteria. They also limit inflammation and determine how well we can absorb the nutrients from our food. One of the biggest killers of “good” bacteria is processed foods, especially sugar.
Start paying attention to how eating different foods makes you feel…not in the moment, but the next day. Try eating a “clean diet” for two or three weeks. That means no processed foods and sugar. Add fermented foods like kimchi, miso, sauerkraut, pickles, or kombucha. Sometimes going dairy free or grain free may be beneficial for two to three weeks, then slowly reintroduce the foods back into the diet and listen to what the body is saying.
You may be surprised by the side of effects of clean eating: happier, more energy, better sleep, or clearer skin. Not to mention your immune system will be all the stronger to fight off the flu and colds that winter often brings us.
If you need help with meeting your health goals, I'm here to help. Just reach out and let me know how I can help you.
Health bite: Clean eating = Clear brain
