your food affects your mood, dude!

godblessourhome
godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
edited September 22 in Food and Nutrition
What we eat and how we feel is very related and important to know how it effects us.

Imagine that a calm, happy life could be served on a breakfast, lunch or dinner plate, even in a brown bag. According to some, it can be.

You won’t find it in a fast-food hamburger box or a vending machine. But more and more research shows there is a correlation between good food and good mood.

“It’s a fast-food nation, and we don’t always take the time to make the connection between what we eat and how we feel,” says Kristy Lewis, a naturopathic doctor at Pure Med Naturopathic Centre in Ottawa.

“We live in a society where people want to take a quick pill, whereas conscious nutrition is a lot of work.”

Aggression is a behavior that many food experts say can be altered by diet. What we eat can even affect our sense of right and wrong.

“Food is not just something that fills our stomach. It’s very active biologically and chemically, and it affects us,” says Jack Challem, Montreal-born author of The Food-Mood Solution. “Your body needs vitamins, protein and other nutrients to make the brain chemicals that help you think clearly, maintain a good mood and act in socially acceptable ways.

Among the foods that cause aggressive behavior, says Challem, are “junk fats” or trans fats.

“Sixty per cent of the brain is fat, so if you consume junk fats, you’re putting a high percentage of junk fats into your brain, and that impedes the way brain cells communicate with each other.”

While the science of food and mood is still evolving, foods linked to allergies are also on the list of suspect aggressor foods, says Lewis.

“Casein, which is found in dairy, and gluten in wheat are two culprits. According to some theories, some people get a toxic effect, creating a substance in the body that leads to aggression or the inability to control behavior.”

Manufactured chemicals like aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG) can also be temper igniters, Lewis says. She suggests nixing foods like instant soups and sauces that contain MSG, plus foods with artificial coloring and low-cal sweeteners.

Aggressive behavior can also be related to low blood sugar, so experts recommend eating more small meals of whole grains, protein and vegetables to keep levels in balance and avoiding refined carbohydrates such as bread, fruit juices and pastries that cause levels to yo-yo.

On the sunny side, some foods dissipate aggression.

“There is evidence that omega-3 fats help improve depression and aggression as well,” says Mona Moorhouse, clinical dietitian at the Royal Ottawa Hospital. Adding protein, high-fiber vegetables and B vitamins to your diet are also good mood bets.

Lewis says when diet is altered, improvements in aggression are tangible, often seen within two weeks.

To assess whether you have food-related aggressive feelings, she recommends keeping a journal. Jot down what you eat and when, and your patterns of aggression during your day.

Lewis also recommends supplements such as 5-HTP, which boosts the brain’s feel-good chemical serotonin, or GABA, which induces relaxation and inhibits overstimulating the brain.

If a good diet and supplementation still do nothing for your nefarious outbursts, you could check with your physician. You might be having trouble absorbing nutrients. Or perhaps it’s just time to take some anger management classes.

FOODS LINKED TO AGGRESSION

Sugar: While carbohydrates initially boost mood by activating serotonin, you’ll also crash quickly after consuming them, making you feel cranky.

Caffeine: While caffeine improves alertness in the short term, the crash that follows can make you irritable.

Alcohol: Alcohol weakens brain functions that normally restrain impulsive behaviors such as excessive aggression.

Wheat and milk: The main allergic response to wheat and casein in milk products is possible brain inflammation, which can cause hostility.

MSG and artificial sweeteners: Their ingredients can heighten reactions, including aggressive feelings.

FOODS THAT COMBAT AGGRESSION

Peanuts, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, almonds, artichokes, spinach, turkey, soy, parmesan cheese, gelatin, mozzarella, peaches, red peppers, papaya, corn, sunflower seeds, lentils, carrots, turnip, squash, broccoli, oats, avocado, potatoes, bran, banana, kidney beans, peas, tomato juice


article from - http://www.bewellbuzz.com/general/angry-it-might-be-something-you-ate/

Replies

  • I wonder if this is why I've been eating pumpkins seeds like MAD all day today!?!?!?!?!
  • byHISstrength
    byHISstrength Posts: 984 Member
    Bump
  • Mindful_Trent
    Mindful_Trent Posts: 3,954 Member
    Good Post! This is just one of the reasons why I think QUALITY is just as important than quantity, if not more so. I'm more proud of myself (and feel a lot better!) when I go a little over on calories, but eat a very good non-processed diet than I am if I'm under my calories but eat junk (fast food, processed food, whatever).
  • amicklin
    amicklin Posts: 452
    Excellent post! Quality is absolutely vital in nutrition.
  • candlegal
    candlegal Posts: 220 Member
    This is an excellent post! I was happy to see alot of the foods I eat on the calm food list:wink: This totally makes sense. We do need to eat quality foods, it matters. 130 calories of black beans are going to be used much better by your body than 130 calories of chips or ice cream, kind of a no-brainer. Same with whole wheat pasta vs. white flour pasta or paste they should call it. It's so refined that it just gunks up in our systems and clogs us up:frown:
    Thanks for sharing this, it is very good:flowerforyou:
  • Scorpiomom222
    Scorpiomom222 Posts: 1,462 Member
    Thank you for this post! That is so awesome! I have also noticed that when you first cut some of these foods from your diet, you can become more irritable.
  • HealthyChanges2010
    HealthyChanges2010 Posts: 5,831 Member
    What we eat and how we feel is very related and important to know how it effects us.

    Imagine that a calm, happy life could be served on a breakfast, lunch or dinner plate, even in a brown bag. According to some, it can be.

    You won’t find it in a fast-food hamburger box or a vending machine. But more and more research shows there is a correlation between good food and good mood.

    “It’s a fast-food nation, and we don’t always take the time to make the connection between what we eat and how we feel,” says Kristy Lewis, a naturopathic doctor at Pure Med Naturopathic Centre in Ottawa.

    “We live in a society where people want to take a quick pill, whereas conscious nutrition is a lot of work.”

    Aggression is a behavior that many food experts say can be altered by diet. What we eat can even affect our sense of right and wrong.

    “Food is not just something that fills our stomach. It’s very active biologically and chemically, and it affects us,” says Jack Challem, Montreal-born author of The Food-Mood Solution. “Your body needs vitamins, protein and other nutrients to make the brain chemicals that help you think clearly, maintain a good mood and act in socially acceptable ways.

    Among the foods that cause aggressive behavior, says Challem, are “junk fats” or trans fats.

    “Sixty per cent of the brain is fat, so if you consume junk fats, you’re putting a high percentage of junk fats into your brain, and that impedes the way brain cells communicate with each other.”

    While the science of food and mood is still evolving, foods linked to allergies are also on the list of suspect aggressor foods, says Lewis.

    “Casein, which is found in dairy, and gluten in wheat are two culprits. According to some theories, some people get a toxic effect, creating a substance in the body that leads to aggression or the inability to control behavior.”

    Manufactured chemicals like aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG) can also be temper igniters, Lewis says. She suggests nixing foods like instant soups and sauces that contain MSG, plus foods with artificial coloring and low-cal sweeteners.

    Aggressive behavior can also be related to low blood sugar, so experts recommend eating more small meals of whole grains, protein and vegetables to keep levels in balance and avoiding refined carbohydrates such as bread, fruit juices and pastries that cause levels to yo-yo.

    On the sunny side, some foods dissipate aggression.

    “There is evidence that omega-3 fats help improve depression and aggression as well,” says Mona Moorhouse, clinical dietitian at the Royal Ottawa Hospital. Adding protein, high-fiber vegetables and B vitamins to your diet are also good mood bets.

    Lewis says when diet is altered, improvements in aggression are tangible, often seen within two weeks.

    To assess whether you have food-related aggressive feelings, she recommends keeping a journal. Jot down what you eat and when, and your patterns of aggression during your day.

    Lewis also recommends supplements such as 5-HTP, which boosts the brain’s feel-good chemical serotonin, or GABA, which induces relaxation and inhibits overstimulating the brain.

    If a good diet and supplementation still do nothing for your nefarious outbursts, you could check with your physician. You might be having trouble absorbing nutrients. Or perhaps it’s just time to take some anger management classes.

    FOODS LINKED TO AGGRESSION

    Sugar: While carbohydrates initially boost mood by activating serotonin, you’ll also crash quickly after consuming them, making you feel cranky.

    Caffeine: While caffeine improves alertness in the short term, the crash that follows can make you irritable.

    Alcohol: Alcohol weakens brain functions that normally restrain impulsive behaviors such as excessive aggression.

    Wheat and milk: The main allergic response to wheat and casein in milk products is possible brain inflammation, which can cause hostility.

    MSG and artificial sweeteners: Their ingredients can heighten reactions, including aggressive feelings.

    FOODS THAT COMBAT AGGRESSION

    Peanuts, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, almonds, artichokes, spinach, turkey, soy, parmesan cheese, gelatin, mozzarella, peaches, red peppers, papaya, corn, sunflower seeds, lentils, carrots, turnip, squash, broccoli, oats, avocado, potatoes, bran, banana, kidney beans, peas, tomato juice


    article from - http://www.bewellbuzz.com/general/angry-it-might-be-something-you-ate/
    Great post!! Thanks so much sharing it with us all...some interesting points ...no time to read it all now but looking forward to it. Thanks also for adding the link :flowerforyou: :heart:
  • HealthyChanges2010
    HealthyChanges2010 Posts: 5,831 Member
    Good Post! This is just one of the reasons why I think QUALITY is just as important than quantity, if not more so. I'm more proud of myself (and feel a lot better!) when I go a little over on calories, but eat a very good non-processed diet than I am if I'm under my calories but eat junk (fast food, processed food, whatever).
    I'm really proud of you too Trenton...you've come so far and now you're creating your own foods at home instead of buying the jars etc. Making our own we are allowed to chill out on all the added salts and sugars!

    Really you're doing so well....your photos show it as well...you look healthier and more at peace.:heart:

    Sorry I highjacked this thread a bit...my apology ...:flowerforyou:
  • biglazydog
    biglazydog Posts: 15 Member
    Thank you for the post very interesting information. Definitely will be adding a lot of those foods to my cart.
  • HealthyChanges2010
    HealthyChanges2010 Posts: 5,831 Member
    bumpity bump:wink:
  • HealthyChanges2010
    HealthyChanges2010 Posts: 5,831 Member
    great info! Thanks:drinker:
This discussion has been closed.