The food we eat daily nourishes our organisms and makes us feel better. Many people agree that having a cup of tea with their favorite cookies after a long working day improves mood and leads to relaxation. It is a clear example of the food mood connection that is a point of interest for multiple modern studies. Scientists try to explain how our mental health can be influenced by what we eat. Apart from that, physicians can recommend patients to attend nutrition-assisted therapy that can improve mental states at the expense of a diet. This article will try to find out how food affects your mood.
The possible food and mood connection
Particular studies have demonstrated the correlations between our mood and the food we eat daily. For instance, a Journal of General Hospital Psychiatry study suggested the connections between certain dietary factors and conditions, like obesity and depressive states. Besides, another study found connections between depression in patients and a ratio rich in refined sugar.
The research found that a participant who consumed food rich in vitamin D was less likely to suffer from depression than people who didn’t consume enough vitamin D. It is worth mentioning that such studies don’t evidence the direct correlations between foods and mental health states in their participants. Still, they anyway deserve the attention of the scientists.
The rising interest in the issue of how food can affect our mental health results in a field of study called nutritional psychiatry. You might not know, but gut bacteria create most of the serotonin supply in the human body. This bacteria also makes essential substances that help our brain work and process properly and regulate memory and mood. All these suggestions matter when it comes to the brain’s affection to the gut and conversely.
How food may improve mood?
It won’t be wise to think that the food we eat can heal depressive states or anxiety, although diets have the potential to boost our mood and make us feel much better. For example, there is evidence that a Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of depression in people.
Such a diet contains large amounts of vegetables and fruits, as well as whole grains, chicken, fish, and seafood. Considering the possible connections between our gut and the brain, eating more foods containing fiber, like leafy greens and whole grains makes sense.
Since your healthy gut is the first pledge for better brain function, you can also think about adding probiotics to your diet, including yogurts and kefir. If you want to improve your mood, try to avoid processed foods that are likely to contain high levels of sodium. The more healthy nutrients the body receives, the more likely we are to feel comfortable and full of vitality.