Diet can reveal the secrets of your emotions
American psychologist Dr. Cynthia Bor, after more than 30 years of research, has found that changing your diet can help control your emotions. She discovered that people who are emotionally tense tend to like crispy, salty foods; those in need of comfort during a crisis prefer soft, sweet foods; and angry individuals are more inclined to eat meat and the like.
When we are under stress, we tend to crave spicy food. This is because capsaicin in chili peppers stimulates the nerve endings in the mouth, causing the brain to release endorphins, substances that can bring pleasure. The magnesium-rich banana can help alleviate tension. Drinking coffee can help refresh the mind, and so on. Therefore, when your mood swings, you might as well try to alleviate your emotions by changing your diet.
Mood foods keep you in a good state
Mood foods are those that can help us maintain a positive emotional state. Adrenaline and serotonin are the main neurotransmitters that affect people's moods, and some nutrients in food are precursors to these neurotransmitters. When these foods are ingested, after being processed and transmitted by the body, they can ultimately affect our emotions.
Protein-rich foods can be broken down into tyrosine in the body, which is a precursor to adrenaline. This can increase the levels of these neurotransmitters, thereby making a person more proactive, active, quick to react, and fond of thinking. Fish, meat, eggs, and dairy are all representative high-protein foods.
Carbohydrate-rich foods help tryptophan enter brain cells. Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, which has a relaxing and calming effect. L-tryptophan is an amino acid widely found in foods like fish, soy, and fruits. Researchers from the Department of Cognitive Psychology at Leiden University in the Netherlands found that supplementing with L-tryptophan—the biochemical precursor of serotonin—can promote charitable donation behavior. This research was published in Frontiers in Psychology on December 17, 2014. Finally, the researchers pointed out that these findings might support the view: "You are what you eat"—our diet may truly change the way we interact with society. Therefore, eating appropriate amounts of grains, fish, eggs, fruits, and the like can help stabilize and improve one's mood, making them more generous.