Eat Healthy, Stay Happy

 

Eat Healthy, Stay Happy

 

You would know the effects of a healthy diet on the physical body; a good diet promotes health and a bad one makes us sick.

But do you know what we eat also affects our mental health and our emotions? It means our emotions not only respond to positive or negative situations but are also colored by the variety of foods we consume on daily basis. Latest medical research has been showing that our brains and nerves absorb the nutrients present in our daily diet more than any other organ of the body and we know our brains and nerves are the organs that regulate our emotional moods.

Our brain absorbs three basic nutrients from the diet:

1) Vitamins and minerals 2) Enzymes and proteins 3) and Glucose.

Hypo/Hyperglycemia and Our Moods

A common reason of bipolar moods is low sugar levels in our blood. As the brain gets its energy from glucose, any sweet thing we eat does affect our mood swings. When we drink coffee or eat chocolate, it rapidly absorbs into our blood to raise sugar levels. The more quickly blood sugar gets elevated, the more swiftly it drops down later. That’s the moment of the dropped sugar level when we feel the urge to eat anything sweet because the body needs instant energy. We feel paralyzed exactly like facing a danger when we lack carbohydrates in our body.

As emotional variations may be threatening, when such individuals see therapists, they often suggest some anxiolytics but that is never a solution. 

“When a patient complains about his or her mood swings, first of all, ask about their daily diet and eating patterns.” Says a psychotherapist.

The Emotional Amino acids

The amino acids we get from vegetables and animal foods are used to prepare proteins and enzymes in the body. The amino acids that accelerate or decelerate the speed of neural messages in the brain are called neurotransmitters and they are responsible for our moods and behaviors. 

Three neurotransmitters of our nervous system are: Serotonin, Dopamine, and Noradrenaline. Serotonin makes us calm while Dopamine and Noradrenaline act as stimulants. All these three neurotransmitters are directly affected by the food we consume. Complex carbohydrates (e.g. cereals and tomatoes) promote the digestion of an amino acid, Tryptophan. Tryptophan, after absorption, converts into Serotonin. That is why carbohydrates-enriched are so tranquilizing for our nerves. In contrast, protein-enriched foods increase acidity in our body and become prime suspects for inducing feelings of anger, aggression, and irritation.

Therefore, the simplest way to keep our emotions in control is to eat a balanced diet containing both carbohydrates and proteins in an appropriate proportion. 

Vegans have difficulty in getting the required amount of protein from their daily diet, so they should consume mixed foods to avoid protein deficiency.

The Vital Vitamins

The vitamins and minerals present in our diet become enzymes after getting into our bodies. They help our vital organs functioning actively. Though all vitamins and minerals are important for our brain and nerves, the vitamins-B Complex is especially critical for our emotional health. Vitamins in this group ensure adequate availability of oxygen by increasing blood supply to the brain and nerves. An optimal amount of oxygen in the brain helps us in sharp and focused thinking. As a result, we feel liberated from emotional stress and behave efficiently in our social environment.

The vitamin-B group also promotes digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, cholesterol, and proteins. As mentioned above, these nutrients are very nerve-friendly and in this regard, vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) are of special significance. Except for Pyridoxine, all other vitamins are water-soluble and do not cause any harm in larger amounts as their extra amounts excrete through urine. Lentils, brown rice, egg yolk, bird/fish meat, dry fruits, soya beans wheat germ, fresh fruits, green vegetables, and dairy products are good sources of the vitamin-B complex.

As vitamin-B12 is found only in animal foods, vegans should take its supplements.

Though we need mineral salts (Calcium, iron, copper, zinc, etc.) in very small amounts, their presence in our body in the right proportions is important to maintain sound physical and mental health. For positive moods, salts like iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc, play a critical role. Low levels of these mineral salts are associated with depression, anxiety, and agitation. They are found abundantly in milk, seafood, egg yolk, dry fruits, seeds, and green-leaf vegetables.

Now you would have realized how important a right diet is for our emotional health. Whenever you feel depressed or anxious, check your daily diet before seeing a psychotherapist or taking pills. Healthy food in the stomach appears as a smile on lips!

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