Food, like any pleasure in life, is having an impact on our brain. In this post, I break down the biochemical reason food is affecting your mood and how to eat for happiness.
I’m no stranger to the effects food had on my mood. I realized this nearly two years ago when I eliminated the top allergens like gluten and dairy from my diet. Of course, when it’s not in your diet, you don’t always recognize how well you feel. But when you put it back in man do you notice.
Or at least I did.
I’ve narrowed down my specific mood culprit to gluten. It hits me like a freight train roughly 24 hours after exposure and takes a solid 24 hours for me to become rational again. It’s not like I feel bad, I just can’t seem to shake the mood. The constant annoyance and anger that lurks under my skin, waiting for the moment to erupt.
It’s not pretty and something I consciously work to avoid for the sake of my health and my family.
While I know it’s not readily understood – that food can impact your mood – there is actual science to why this happens and what you should know about eating for your mood. Inside this podcast, I break it all down and share my healing strategies for health.
why this happens
Think about it. Your brain is always “on.” It takes care of your thoughts and movements, your breathing and heartbeat, your senses — it works hard 24/7, even while you’re asleep. This means your brain requires a constant supply of fuel. That “fuel” comes from the foods you eat — and what’s in that fuel makes all the difference. Put simply, what you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood.
The big question is always why in the world it happens. We always hear food has power, but I think we all question how much power it actually has.
The short answer to why food could be affecting your mood is simply because of boils down to four things:
- nutrient deprivation
- inflammation
- blood-brain barrier imbalance
- epigenetics
Foods impact all four of these situations that lead to excess heat being built up in the brain, causing symptoms ranging from brain fog to severe debilitating mental illness.
Make sure you listen to the podcast for all of the details.
eat for your mood
Knowing these four categories, then you can start to recognize the value of the food you consume. That every morsel of food is having an impact, whether positive or negative.
The first step to eat for a better mood is to live aware of how foods are making you feel. Take notice of how you feel right after you eat but also 1-5 days later. Sure, it can be hard to distinguish, but if you start picking up on patterns, you may begin to recognize what is causing it.
The second step is eliminating inflammatory causing foods including, gluten, dairy, sugar, processed foods, and processed oils. Try removing these foods for 4-6 weeks and see how you feel.
The third step is to include anti-inflammatory agents into your diet. These include all fruits and vegetables, herbs, teas, and healthy fats.
If you feel like your mood is still affected, you can try supplementing with a few nutrients that your body may be deficient in. You can get a full list of what I recommend below.
reset hormones to reduce inflammation
Excess inflammation and hormone imbalance usually go hand in hand. Just like fixing inflammation can reset your hormones, nourishing your hormones can also help beat inflammation. Inside my 5-Day Hormonal Reset, I give you all of the information, do’s and don’ts of resetting your hormones in just 5-days.
Five days, the right environment, a healthy mindset, and a winning plan is all your body needs to get back on track. To end the viscous sugar cravings, cut back on caffeine, regulate your cycle, increase your libido, awaken your brain, and put more joy in your soul.
Make sure to check out my 5-Day Hormonal Reset Program. The perfect guide to understanding how to nourish your body, provide the right environment for change, all with a healthy mindset. It makes the how-to simple and easy!
Not to mention, the recipes are delicious! You can check out a one-day sample below!
Invest in your health here and reset your hormones in just five days!
mind boosting supplements
Here are some of my favorite supplements to help boost your mind.
**Make sure you consult with your doctor before taking any supplementation to find out what is right for you.
- Magnesium Glycinate
- L-Glutamine
- Rescue Remedies
- Lemon Balm
- GABA
- Valerian Root
- Maca Root
- Coconut Water
the mindset series
Have you listened to all of the episodes in the mindset series? Check out the full list of podcasts here:
- How to Heal Your Relationship with Wellness
- A Brave Untold Story of Disordered Eating
- The Story You Tell Yourself Determines Your Health
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