What do eating habits have to do with our moods? - Our brains run..on what we eat! Brain chemicals called neurotransmitters function as the primary regulators of our moods. Some neurotrasmitters (such as dopamine) excite us, while others (such as serotonin) have a calming effect.
Our brains make neurotransmitters from "neuronutrients" mainly vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that make up protein. But low levels of neuronutrients can impair neurotransmitter activity.
Blood sugar levels also affect moods. Nearly everyone feels good after eating, when blood sugar begins an upward climb. But when blood sugar levels sink, we get hungry and our mood typically turns sour. We may feel impatient, irritable, angry and aggressive until we eat again.
Under ideal conditions, both our blood sugar and our neurotransmitter remain relatively balanced, enabling us to respond appropriately to different situations. But when we feel stressed, our eating habits quickly slide. We delay or skip meals, eat too many fast foods and snacks loaded with sugars and sugarlike carbs, and consume too much caffeine.
These junk foods amount to double-whammy-they're low in neuro nutrients, and they trigger rapid blood sugar swings pulling our moods in tow. As a result we end up shortchanging ourselves of the neuronutrients when we need them most to protect against stress and bad moods.
- DO: eat some protein, such as eggs, for breakfast every single day..
- DON'T: eat any foods containing sugars and sugarlike carbs, deep-fried foods or softdrinks.
Some mood-mellowing nutrients:
- High-Potency B-Complex - known as stress nutrients;
- Vitamin C - irritability and fatigue are the earliest signs of low vitamin C intake.
- Omega-3 Fish Oils - essential for brain function and positive moods.
- Gaba (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) - it lessens the effects of stress, promotes feelings of relaxation and helps the brain filter out distractions.
- Theanine - increases the brain's alpha waves, which promotes feelings of relaxation;
- 5-HTP - the immediate precursor to serotonin. can take the edge off depression, anxiety and fitful sleep.
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