Clever Use of Food to Control Mood: Grains, Vegetables, and Fruits Can Make You Happy
Core Tip: After the body ingests certain nutrients, they can be processed into corresponding neurotransmitters, thereby affecting their concentration levels in the body and ultimately influencing people's mood.
Some components in food can alter the concentration levels of certain neurotransmitters in the blood. So-called neurotransmitters are chemical "messengers" that carry specific information throughout the body. They travel between nerve cells, transmitting a variety of emotional information. When the body ingests certain nutrients, they can be processed into corresponding neurotransmitters, thus affecting their concentration levels in the body and ultimately influencing people's mood.
"Happy" Foods to Drive Away Depression
If you are driven crazy by work or have fallen into a depressed mood, the following foods may help.
Whole Grains: Foods like whole wheat bread, sweet potatoes, brown rice, and germ rice are rich in carbohydrates and B vitamins, which help maintain nervous system stability and increase energy metabolism.
Vegetables and Fruits: Research shows that the abundant vitamins and phytochemicals in vegetables and fruits can improve brain chemistry and keep the brain functioning well.
Sea Fish: For example, salmon, tuna, and sardines contain fatty acids that are beneficial for improving mood, especially Omega-3 fatty acids. These can block nerve conduction pathways, increase serotonin secretion, and reduce psychological anxiety.
"Unhealthy" Foods That Spoil Your Mood
When you're in a bad mood, definitely avoid the following mood-spoiling foods, as they might only add to your troubles.
Fried Foods: Fried foods are rich in saturated fats, which take a long time to digest. This diverts blood that should be supplying the brain to the digestive system, leading to slower brain function and an inability to concentrate.
High-Fat Foods: High-fat foods can increase cholesterol in the blood, slow blood flow, and prevent the body from getting enough oxygen support. This can easily make a person feel tired, drowsy, and lethargic.
High-Sugar Foods: When sugar is broken down for energy in the body, it produces metabolic byproducts like pyruvic acid and lactic acid. These waste products are broken down into carbon dioxide and water and then excreted with the help of an enzyme containing Vitamin B1. If Vitamin B1 is insufficient, these metabolic byproducts will accumulate in the body. If they accumulate too much in brain tissue, it can lead to inexplicable anger, impulsiveness, and other negative emotions.
Mixed Bag of Mood-Boosting Foods
The following foods can help you concentrate when consumed in small amounts, but excessive intake can have the opposite effect.
Protein-Rich Foods: Animal protein-rich foods like milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, and lean meat contain various essential amino acids for the human body. One of these, tyrosine, is a precursor to adrenaline and dopamine, which can increase the levels of these neurotransmitters, thereby increasing alertness and putting a person in a more proactive mood. On the other hand, other amino acids in animal protein can hinder tryptophan from entering the brain. Low levels of tryptophan in the brain can lead to tendencies towards anxiety and aggression.
Coffee: Caffeine in coffee can increase your alertness and concentration. However, caffeine only works up to a certain neural threshold. Beyond that point, over-excitement can prevent you from maintaining normal thought processes.
Alcohol: A glass of red wine or beer daily can help you relax and may also reduce the risk of heart disease, but do not overindulge. Excessive alcohol can stimulate the nerves, leading to problems like insomnia and difficulty concentrating.