![]() |
![]() |
Nutrition Information |
|
||
![]() |
![]() |
How Food Affects Mood
Everyone can benefit from understanding how food affects our mood "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food," wrote the eminent Greek physician Hippocrates during the dawn of western medicine. We took his advice. Thousands of years later we use chicken soup to nourish our bodies, yet we question whether the right food choices can heal our mind. Some people are sure. Inspired by personal experience, Amanda Geary founded the UK's Food and Mood Project in 1998. "I started the Food and Mood Project following from my own experience of recovery from depression where I noticed that what I was eating was having an effect on my emotional and mental health," says Geary. "In 1998 I won an award from Mind, the UK's leading mental health charity, to start the Project and help others to explore the links between what we eat and how we feel." The Food and Mood Project is extensive. Geary's fascination with the relationship between nutrition and mind has prompted a website, www.foodandmood.org, online support group, handbook, posters and large-scale survey. This recruited 200 individuals between the ages of 26 and 55 who lived in London or SE England. The results were substantial. Says Geary: "From the Food and Mood Survey results, those using this form of self-help found that cutting down or avoiding potential food stressors like sugar (80%), caffeine (79%), alcohol (55%) and chocolate (53%) and having more food supporters like water (80%), vegetables (78%), fruit (72%) and oil rich fish (52%) had the most beneficial effects on mental health." Moderating Stress Foods For many the knowledge of food and mood is restricted to word of mouth and stigma. Consider turkey's apparent sleep inducing power. Many Thanksgiving dinners end with a nap or at the very least, droopy eyelids. Though the tryptophan in turkey seems to be the culprit, our sluggishness is really due to overeating. Though tryptophan does elevate the brain's sleep-inducing serotonin, it does so in very small amounts. The true cause? An overflow of mashed potatoes, stuffing, pie and alcohol which shifts blood away from the brain and down to the digestive tract. The connection between food and mood is not black and white. Some foods are both healing and stressful. Caffeine and chocolate provide initial exhilaration. Caffeine improves focus and stimulates motivation. Pleasant, until the crash that follows. Chocolate also gives us mixed results. It is laden with sugar and fat, yet full of cell protecting, disease killing antioxidants. These are called flavanols. Two studies published in the Lancet suggest that these flavanols decrease LDL cholesterol, the "bad" type of cholesterol responsible for clogging arteries. Pure cocoa has the highest levels of flavanols while milk chocolate has the lowest. The chemical responsible for chocolate's uplifting effect is called phenylethylamine (phenyl-ethyl-amine). This is an essential amino acid, which is a component of protein. So though phenylethylamine is scary to pronounce it's nothing to be afraid of, especially for expectant mothers. An April 2004 article in New Scientist reports that stressed mothers who ate chocolate regularly throughout their pregnancy had happier babies. Two groups of women were studied before and after delivery, one group ate chocolate and the other abstained. Six months after delivery both groups were asked to rate their infant's behavior. The chocolate-crunching mothers reported having babies that smiled and laughed more. But before you stock up on Cadbury's bars, remember that tomatoes and fruit have as much or more of this happy chemical, and are far healthier. The key to gobbling benefits and not havoc is moderation. Most experts recommend 3-4 servings a week, ideally as a substitute for your regular dessert. Jolts and Jitters For many of us a jolt of java provides a more upbeat morning. This is an illusion. All our morning brew really does is stop the withdrawl symptoms that started in our sleep. Even one cup a day drinkers will experience these as headache, irritability, lack of focus and fatigue. For heavier users caffeine withdrawl can be crazy making, according to the October 2004 issue of Psychopharmacology. After review of 66 studies spanning over 170 years, it was concluded that the more severe forms of caffeine withdrawal merit classification as a psychiatric disorder. So should we stay on the brew for life to avoid this? Not so. This only happens to one in eight people, with the disorder peaking between days two and nine. Even for these unfortunate folks this short-term madness is worth it. The benefits of being caffeine free include improved sleep and increased energy. Caffeine is sneaky. It worms its way into painkillers, colas, tea and chocolate. The healthiest source of caffeine is tea, which has half that of brewed coffee. BBC Health estimates that the average UK resident will consume 80,000 cups of tea during their life. Despite its caffeine this is a boon rather than a bother. Though much research focuses on the health benefits of green tea, in many ways black tea is comparable. English Breakfast and Earl Grey are examples of black tea. Both types are filled with antioxidants. These protect our cells and have been studied for their cancer preventing effects. A 1998 study at the Chinese Academy of Preventative Medicine in Beijing found that people at risk for mouth cancer who were given black tea for six months were slower to actually develop the disease than those who abstained. More recently the United States Department of Agriculture tested the effect of black tea on cholesterol. The six-week study tested healthy individuals who drank five cups of black tea daily and an equal amount that unknowingly drank fake tea. The results, published in the 2003 issue of The Journal of Nutrition, showed that the tea drinker's LDL cholesterol dropped between 7 and 11 percent. Carb Highs and Lows We can't avoid sugar. Even without a drop of honey, molasses, syrup and sugarcubes, this sweet delight finds us. Fruit sugar, or fructose, affects our bodies in a similar way as table sugar. So do carbohydrates. Diabetics and those familiar with Atkins are aware of the glycaemic index or GI. Put simply, this measures how quickly a food can raise our blood sugar. Since blood sugar triggers the release of insulin diabetics are constantly watching their carbs. Yet we without this or other insulin-disorders still endure carbohydrate confusion. Since insulin drives blood sugar into the cells and prevents fat breakdown in the body, high carbohydrate, or high GI foods are considered fattening. Yet carbohydrates are the brain's main source of energy. What do we do? The trick to managing carbohydrates is planning. Eating a variety of low GI foods through the day improves mood, heightens energy and reduces weight. The latter is a result of helping us feel fuller for longer. Foods scoring below 50 on the glycaemic index release their sugars slowly, giving us vigor instead fatigue. Alternately, we can reduce the impact of a high GI food by eating it in combination with healthy low GI foods and protein. We can also eat more wholegrain breads. These slow down carbohydrate digestion. Preliminary studies show that the Omega-3 fatty acids from fish have the same effect. Slower digestion has many benefits. Stable blood sugar helps us avoid those not-so-sweet lows after a sugar high. Though carbohydrates initially boost our mood by activating the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, they produce a quick and shocking crash. The dramatic lowering of serotonin can cause sleepiness, hostility and depression. The latter is most extreme. For proof of the relationship between depression and blood sugar, we need only to ask Diabetes UK. "Research indicates a direct link between people with mental health problems and diabetes. People with diabetes are twice as likely to become depressed," states Penny Williams, care advisor for Diabetes UK. This depression often results in changing behavior including alterations in diet. With less attention to sugar levels the depression worsens. It's a sad spiral. Says Williams: "We encourage people with diabetes to manage their condition with a healthy diet and lifestyle. For people with mental illness, making the necessary lifestyle changes can be hard." Protein Perky Protein is far less controversial than carbs. The right amount of protein at the right time is the way to stay upbeat and active. Protein is composed of many amino acids. Though ideally we should fill our brain with all of them, the one crucial one for energy is called tyrosine. Tyrosine is needed for the production of dopamine and norepinephrine. These help us keep focused, energized and motivated. Tyrosine effects our mood in multiple ways. By keeping our thyroid gland and its hormones active it helps regulate metabolism. Through this our stamina and mental clarity improve. Tyrosine is found in most proteins, but the best sources are sunflower seeds, beans, bananas, almonds, fish, eggs, soy products and dairy. If you "focus" you'll find that the effects of eating protein peak 2-3 hours after eating and are strongest when eaten alone. Before concerns about contamination, fish was regarded as one of the healthiest sources of protein. Why? Herring, mackerel, sardines, tuna and salmon are rich in omega-3s. These are essential fatty acids (EFA's). Though we call these acids "fatty" they do not increase how many stone we are. However, EFA's will elevate our mood and increase emotional stability. 22 percent of the people surveyed by The Food and Mood Project reported that an EFA supplement "definitely helped" emotional or mental health. This is more than hearsay. Researchers began investigating the ability of omega-3's to effect mood after they noticed that depression is common in people with heart disease, and that low levels of omega 3's are found in both groups. More support for fish emerged at the 2004 meeting of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids congress in Brighton. Omega 3's are called such because there are three different varieties. BBC News, who covered the gathering, reports member Dr. Ray Rice as saying: "People who eat a lot of fish are generally healthier, mentally and physically, than non-fish eaters." How much is enough? According to the Food Standards Agency, on average, people in the UK eat a third of a portion (about 47g) of oily fish a week. They recommend two servings of fish a week, with one being oily. Vegetarians will cheer to know that fish isn't the only good source of omega 3's. Dark leafy green vegetables, flaxseed, walnuts and seaweed all contain linolenic acid that the body converts to the same type of omega-3 found in fish. Making Changes Last It can feel difficult to turn from comfort foods to controlled eating. Plus if we eliminate too much to fast we risk losing crucial nutrition. So what do we do? "The approach I describe in The Food and Mood Handbook is about making step-by-step changes to what you eat, observing and assessing the effects, and then deciding for yourself what changes are appropriate to implement for the longer term," reveals Geary. "Although respondents views were mixed on whether these changes were easy or difficult to make, for many the tangible benefits made the effort worthwhile." Although changing our dietary habits can be tough it can be done. Ironically, having more food available may help. Geary reports that "it is found that eating regular meals and snacks, not missing breakfast and being prepared by carrying snacks with you, were the best strategies for mentally health eating." Galina Pembroke is publisher and editor-in-chief of New View magazine. New View magazine offers articles on self-help, health, animal rights and more. Visit http://www.nuvunow.ca
Look For
MORE RESOURCES: Inside The ‘Out-Of-Control’ Debate Over Axing Maui Vacation Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat 21 Best Airbnbs in France, From Sun-Drenched Villas to Spacious Parisian Flats - Condé Nast Traveler 21 Best Airbnbs in France, From Sun-Drenched Villas to Spacious Parisian Flats Condé Nast Traveler Travel Troubleshooter: Where is our Mexican vacation refund? We’ve been waiting for months Sun Sentinel Asbury Park emerges as top destination for Fourth of July visitors, national report finds Asbury Park Press The STRO Ordinance aims to ensure short-term rentals of less than a month are regulated. NBC 7 San Diego Casago franchisee expands in Big Bear with former Vacasa properties Short Term Rentals - News This Oregon Airbnb Is Like Stepping Onto the Set of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Only In Your State Maui Vacation Rental Showdown Vote Happens July 2 Beat of Hawaii Vacation Rental Management Tool Market: Long-Term Value & Growth Seen Ahead | Lodgify, Kigo, Avantio openPR.com How do short-term vacation rentals affect Hawaiʻi Island's economy? Hawaii Public Radio Vote on Maui vacation rentals could come July 2 The Garden Island Newspaper Everything You Need to Check in Your Vacation Rental Before Unpacking a Single Bag Better Homes & Gardens Casago Franchisee Grows Portfolio with Vacasa Properties Acquisition: California Tourism Expands Travel And Tour World A novel idea for Maui’s housing crisis: Using vacation rental profits for residents’ down payments Maui Now Maui vacation rental bill continues to draw passionate testimony from both sides Hawaii Public Radio Maui Gets $1.6B—Can Vacation Rentals Survive What’s Coming? Beat of Hawaii Maui Vacation Rental Fight Drags On While Visitors Wait Beat of Hawaii Opinion | Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide The Washington Post Owners claim Maui residents can’t afford converted vacation rentals, UH study says otherwise Honolulu Star-Advertiser Emotions Are High As Maui Considers Phasing Out Short-Term Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Key amendments proposed for vacation rental phase-out bill ahead of Council committee hearing Maui Now Spain’s new digital registry for short-term rentals STARTS – Holiday lets under threat Euro Weekly News Where to stay near CMAC: Hotels, campgrounds, and rentals for your concert trip Democrat and Chronicle Vrbo offers last minute deals on vacation rentals Short Term Rentals - News Oahu officials encourage residents and tourists to report illegal vacation rentals spectrumlocalnews.com Big Bear Vacation expands California portfolio with acquisition of former Vacasa properties Travel Daily News International Marriott Adds Rain Protection for Vacation Rentals Travel Agent Central Committee votes 5-0 against couple’s vacation rental request advancing Evanston RoundTable Maui Vacation Rental Ban Moves Forward Amid Growing Outrage Beat of Hawaii Plan To Convert Maui Vacation Rentals To Long-Term Housing Delayed Honolulu Civil Beat Honolulu Sees Doubling Of Vacation Rental Registrations Under New Rules Honolulu Civil Beat Tourism down as summer begins Mountain Xpress Honolulu Hasn't Fined Airbnb, Vrbo for Illegal Short-Term Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Study: Maui Should Be Cautious In Phasing Out Vacation Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat RentALLScript Launches RentALLPro - A Flutter-Powered Leap for Cross-Platform Vacation Rental Apps openPR.com Vacation Rental Study in Goleta Tells More About the Neighbors The Santa Barbara Independent Hawaiʻi County Council seeks more oversight with passage of vacation rental bill Hawaii Public Radio EDITORIAL: Time for Maui to phase out STRs The Garden Island Newspaper June 18 Daily Briefing: Vacation rental education, thanking boards and commissions, and more The Palm Springs Post Fire district wins vacation rental assessment lawsuit Anna Maria Islander Supreme Court: cities cannot limit vacation rentals based on owner occupancy Idaho Public Television Vacation Rentals of the Desert Accused of Owing Millions; Riverside DA Launches Investigation After Public Outcry NBC Palm Springs Vacation Rentals of the Desert Accused of Owing Property Owners, Renters Over $1 Million NBC Palm Springs Maui Council To Take Up Bill Phasing Out Vacation Rentals This Summer Honolulu Civil Beat Couple who owns Manasota Key vacation rentals welcomes first renters since Hurricanes Helene, Milton FOX 13 Tampa Bay Community invited to briefing about proposed registration process for short-term vacation rentals Big Island Now Combatting human trafficking: New training, reporting requirements for hotels, vacation rentals WRAL.com Vacation rentals may face new taxes as WA lawmakers eye housing fix The Center Square With housing and economy at stake, Maui County weighs phase-out of 7,000 vacation rentals Hawaii Public Radio City has no mercy for illegal vacation rental operators Hawaii News Now Maui mayor's plan to phase out vacation rentals would increase housing but shrink the economy AP News Uncertain Economy Contributes to Slow Summer Rental Bookings The Vineyard Gazette Kokua Line: How do we report illegal vacation rentals in Kaka‘ako? Honolulu Star-Advertiser Santa Cruz County moves to rein in vacation rentals Lookout Santa Cruz Housing panel looks at new rules for rent-setting algorithms, vacation rentals - Evanston RoundTable Housing panel looks at new rules for rent-setting algorithms, vacation rentals Evanston RoundTable Marriott Adds Rain Protection for Vacation Rentals Through New WeatherPromise Partnership Upgraded Points South Lake Tahoe opens short-term rental permits after Measure T overturned Reno Gazette Journal The Best Vacation Rental Travel Insurance for 2025 U.S. News & World Report StayTerra Expands Its Vacation Rental Collection with Investment in Moving Mountains - Business Wire This Alaska Airbnb Is Like Stepping Onto the Set of a Spaghetti Western Only In Your State Capitalizing on the $147 Billion Vacation Rental Market GlobeNewswire Manatee County Commission votes to pursue regulation of short-term vacation rentals Sarasota Herald-Tribune Jersey Shore summer rentals: Here's the good news and bad news for landlords, renters Asbury Park Press |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
RELATED ARTICLES
Why are Free Form Essential Amino Acids Necessary and What to Look For! 1. Look for high quality, crystalline, free-form, amino acids (AAs) Most amino acid blends on the market are actually reduced milk or soy proteins. You Dont Have to be Wealthy to Eat Well: The Truth about Your Grocery Budget Many people complain that organic foods are more costly than conventional. In many cases, organic foods are priced higher. Healthy Eating Myths Destroyed Some of the things you think you know that just ain't so (these myths are not true):Eating Cholesterol does not increase your cholesterol levels Salt does NOT cause High Blood Pressure Eating Fat does NOT make you fat All refined carbohydrates are hazardous to you Artificial sweeteners of all kinds are not good for you All vitamins and supplements are NOT created equalEating Cholesterol does not increase your cholesterol levelsThe Medical professions current way of thinking about cholesterol. They look and see lots of cholesterol in the blood. What Would You Do For a Klondike Bar? Unfortunately, the words "diet" and "cheating" go hand in hand. When you say, "I'm on a DIET", it usually means you are depriving yourself of something. Food with Niacin and The Benefits Niacin, also called nicotinic acid, is a member of the B-group of water-soluble vitamins and occurs in food with niacin. Also known as B3, niacin has many beneficial properties and food with niacin should be included in the diet as part of a healthy lifestyle. What is the Atkins Diet and How Can It Help You? What is the Atkins diet and how can it help you?When Dr Robert Atkins first published his book,"Dr Atkins Diet Revolution", in 1972 the broad medical and nutritional community dismissed it as just another quack diet plan.Thirty years later, Dr Atkins nutritional theories have found wide spread support in scientific research circles, while creating a legion of followers who have adopted low-carb eating as a way of life. 6 Ways to Eat More Healthfully With so much 'diet advice' around today it is little wonder if you feel somewhat confused. Whether you are wanting to lose weight, maintain your weight or help your family eat more healthfully. Fighting Fatigue and the American Diner Breakfast (Part 1 of a Special 5 Part Series on Body Awareness)I went out for lunch yesterday and ordered a portobello mushroom wrap with some fresh vegetables, no dressing at the local sandwich and coffee shop.As always, it was a struggle to find something at a deli, restaurant or take out place that fits my somewhat stringent and holistic dietary requirements. Five Steps to a Healthier Heart Step 1: Eat five to ten servings per day of fresh fruits and vegetables.Studies have shown that populations that eat large amounts of fruits and vegetables have half the cardiovascular disease rate of those that don't. Nuts To You... Just One Way to a Healthy Heart Nuts are readily available and provide a highly nutritious food. In addition to protein, carbohydrate, and fat, nuts contain many other important nutrients: fiber, vitamin E, folic acid, potassium, and magnesium. Are You Lactose Intolerant? Do you know anyone who can't consume milk or milk-based products? The condition is not uncommon and these people are classified as lactose intolerant.Lactose is the main carbohydrate or sugar found in milk, and in varying quantities in dairy products made from milk including yoghurt, ice cream, soft cheeses and butter. Cholesterol Does Not Cause Heart Disease Cholesterol is an essential building block of every cell in the body, required for all metabolic processes. It is particularly important in the production of nerve tissue, bile and certain hormones. Antioxidants and Your Health Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home and neutralize free radical oxidation, which is rusting away your body, by eating a variety of foods high in antioxidants every day.Why? Antioxidants, as the name implies, help prevent oxidation, may help increase immune function and possibly decrease risk of infection and cancer. Using Calcium and Magnesium for Constipation Calcium helps reduce constipationUsing calcium and magnesium in the right quantities can prevent or relieve constipation. They can support the health of your colon and keep you regular. What Would You Think if I said that You could Overdose on Water? You would probably think that I was writing a lot of old rubbish, but please stay with me, as I can assure you that it is very possible and there are many cases reported worldwide to back up my statement.A number of medical experts recommend that everyone should drink eight glasses of water per day, which is about two litres. Bye Bye Holidays and Holiday Eating Bye Bye HolidaysHoping everyone had a fun, fantastic, exciting and relaxing mix of Holiday eventfulness or lack thereof. Whatever it was that you did, that it most suited your moods and needs. Free List of Fat Burning Foods This free list of fat burning foods will help you make the right choices to burn off more fat than you ingest by eating them. The fat burning secret to losing weight is to eat and drink until you are full and satisfied, choosing foods that burn more calories than you consume. Essential Tips For Proper Food Combining: As any student of chemistry will assure you, acids and bases (alkalis) neutralize each other. If you eat a starch with a protein, digestion is impaired or completely arrested! The undigested food mass can cause various kinds of digestive disorders. The Business Traveler's Diet Problem: Staying Fit When on the Run Despite the fact that accurate nutrition information can be accessed by almost anyone with an Internet connection or a library card, the 21st century has picked up where the last one left off: one dominated by poor eating habits.The reason for this national dietary deficiency is not due to any single source or kind of nutrition misinformation. The Sugar-Coated Truth It is believed that cane sugar was discovered before the birth of Christ. As early as 500 B. ![]() |
home | site map |
© 2005 |