Did you know that certain foods can improve your mood or predispose you to anxiety and depression? Knowing the effects they can have on your body will be crucial for your well-being.
Can food regulate my mood?
A balanced diet improves the composition of the intestinal microbiota and provides energy to the nervous system, which releases chemicals called neurotransmitters, which are created and synthesized through what we eat. Among these neurotransmitters is serotonin, which has a direct impact on mood.
On the one hand, there are foods that contribute to a good mood:
Strawberries, peaches and loquats facilitate an increase in endorphins.
Avocados and bananas are rich in omega-3, phosphorus and vitamin B, which contributes to better regulation of sleep, emotional processes and especially anxiety.
A deficiency in foods rich in tryptophan (spinach, walnuts, eggs, chicken, turkey) can generate in our body a greater vulnerability to stress and a predisposition to sleep disturbances.
On the other hand, there are unhealthy foods that interfere with the proper functioning of the body and can cause negativity and a predisposition to a dysphoric mood:
Refined sugar causes chemical changes that can produce chronic inflammation and, over time, alter the immune system, increasing our predisposition to depression.
Transgenic fats (processed foods, "junk food") also predispose to depressive symptoms and condition the body to "want more" due to an excess of spices and sauces that make it "tastier."
Why do I crave sugars and fats if I'm anxious or depressed?
Sugar consumption produces a rapid rise in blood glucose levels (you experience greater well-being and a feeling of energy) followed by a rapid drop that can cause irritability, anxiety and feelings of fatigue. Furthermore, as it has great addictive potential, many people develop an emotional dependence with significant mood swings.
Therefore, this "craving" is nothing more than an attempt to regulate a dysphoric mood. The brain "asks" for that food because it produces short-term and effortless well-being, which prevents your body from regulating autonomously, allowing it to "take its time." For this reason, people who frequently consume these foods have greater impulsivity and less self-control than people who "train" their brain in patience and reward in the medium-long term.
If you want to make changes to your eating habits and you are not sure how, or you feel that you use certain foods as an "emotional regulator", I encourage you to see us for a consultation to assess your case and be able to guide you better.
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