We all can relate with the instances of having junk foods after a stressful or bad day. This is commonly known as stress eating and affects people of any age. A school kid being stressed about studies and exams, youngsters being stressed about searching the right career option or a working professional stressed about various issues making them indulge in unhealthy eating practices are some examples. All in all this brings us to the fact that there is a direct correlation between food and mood. But is it really good for our mood is the real question? Let me put the answer this way. Food that we eat does not only affects our mental health but also plays an integral role in managing mental disorders like depression etc.
Commonly known as happy hormone, Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates our emotions. It helps regulate sleep and appetite, mediate moods, and inhibit pain. And numerous neurons line our gut which is the largest source of serotonin production. It makes sense that the inner workings of our digestive system don’t just help you digest food, but also guide our emotions. Good bacteria influences this production. They do not only influence what your gut digests and absorbs, but that they also affect the degree of inflammation throughout your body, as well as your mood and energy level. You can only maintain this intestinal microbiome by having good foods that include whole grains, pulses and legumes, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and omega 3 rich fatty acids.
Taking care of how our food is making us feel is very important.
*Observation from experience– Reintroduce foods back in your diet gradually and observe how you feel. Following these habits might take some time but you need to proceed gradually step by step. Once you reach that point where you get comfortable with the discipline of healthy eating you will star to feel better not just physically but also mentally and emotionally.
