What are Mood Foods?
The food that we consume is a big factor in our daily moods. Foods contain chemicals that can affect the brain, influencing how we feel and think, and sometimes how we act. Think about how you feel after binging on fast food, and compare it to how you feel after eating a salad.
Mood foods are foods that we eat that have an affect on how we feel every day. The way that you feel can be a simple as one nutrient in your diet determining your high or low feeling for the next few hours. Eating regularly and making sure you do not skip meals will also boost your mood.
One of the major factors in mood foods is the brain chemical serotonin. High levels of serotonin keep you calm and relaxed, with a high level of concentration. Serotonin is also responsible for sleep, mood and appetite levels. If levels of serotonin decrease, then your body may start to crave carbohydrates.
Unhappy feelings are often caused by low levels of serotonin. Good mood foods that contain high levels of serotonin are fish, chicken and turkey. Bananas, avocados, high fiber cereals and whole grain products are also good mood foods.
Although it has sometimes been given a bad reputation, fat is important in the good mood foods category. Too little fat in the diet will leave you feeling unhappy. Foods with high fat content release endorphins and make you feel happy. It is best to stick to healthy fats, such as the monounsaturated fats that are found in some nut, olive and fish oils. The omega-3 fatty acid found in some seafood is a great eliminator of depression and will keep the brain healthy.
Good mood foods also include foods high in protein. Protein contains an amino acid called tyrosine, which increases levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, the chemicals responsible for excitement and alertness.
Foods high in essential vitamins and minerals are excellent good mood foods. A lack of folic acid in the diet has been found to be a factor in depression. Similarly, a lack of selenium will cause unhappy and anxious feelings. Green leafy vegetables, turkey and asparagus are all high in folic acid. Whole grains, eggs and tuna fish are good sources of selenium.
It is a shame that bad mood foods usually taste great. Foods that are high in sugar are common bad mood foods. They will give an instant lift, and then around an hour later, a drop in mood and energy will follow. A sugar rush can lead to mood swings, including anxiety, irritation, lethargy and anxiety.
Bad mood foods include foods with lots of additives, preservatives and food colorings. Try to stick to foods that have a low glycemic index (GI). This indicates that the sugar level is low and will not cause a sugar rush.
Written by Garry Crystal
