“Mood” can be defined as a temporary state of mind or feeling. “Food” is any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink or that plants absorb in order to maintain life and growth.

Your brain is a 24/7 machine. Whether you are awake or asleep, it is there in the background working away helping you breathe, move, feel and so much more. But what fuels this powerhouse? Food of course. Your brain needs calories to function and do what it does best. Kanika narial said: Food for every mood. When angry, food. When sad, food. When happy ,food. When conspiring, food. When constipating, food. When wording, food. When dreaming, food.

Correlation of food and hormones

The brain knows that when a person eats, they’re doing something right, and it releases feel-good chemicals in the reward system. These chemicals include the neurotransmitter dopamine, which the brain interprets as pleasure.When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol. This is known as the flight or fight hormone. While it helps your body cope with whatever ‘attack’ it perceives, in return, it grabs energy from the body and creates a drop in blood sugar levels. Serotonin is a feel-good hormone. It helps the body regulate sleep, appetite, mood and even affects how you feel pain. A lack of this hormone and you might find yourself feeling tense, irritable, tired, and crying sweets and carbs.  A healthy diet promotes a healthy gut.Microbes in the gut produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate our mood and emotions.95% of your body’s serotonin supply is created by gut bacteria.Gut bacteria help make hundreds of important chemicals that the brain uses to process normally. These chemicals also play a part in regulating our learning, memory and mood. Unhealthy eating patterns can cause mood swings.What we eat, especially foods that contain chemical additives and ultra-processed foods, affects our gut environment and increases our risk of diseases.Researchers recommend “fixing the food first” before trying gut modifying-therapies (probiotics, prebiotics) to improve how we feel.

Good and bad food

Some types of food should you be eating for a good mood.The good: •Fresh fruits and vegetables •Nuts •High fiber foods • Grains •Protein •Micronutrients, such as magnesium. The bad: •Highly processed foods •Fast food •Crisps and snack •Lots of sugar •Too much caffeine.

Suggestions

Researchers wonder whether poor nutrient intake may lead to depression so some positive changes you can make to improve your eating to support your mental health:

•Eat at set intervals throughout the day•Eat a variety of foods•Reach and maintain a healthy weight•Drink plenty of fluids, especially water•Get regular exercise.

Written by: Taveela Asif