The food you eat can have a direct impact on your overall mood. There are a few reasons for this. First of all, think about how you feel when you are really hungry. Are you able to concentrate? How is your patience level? There is a reason why the term, ‘hangry,’ has become so popular. As defined by Oxford Languages, hangry means to be, “bad tempered or irritable as a result of hunger.” Eating regularly and paying attention to hunger cues will instantly help improve your mood.
Additionally, the types of food we eat also plays an important role in the way we feel and interact with others. Ensure you are eating real foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and good quality meats, eggs and/or plant-based sources of protein. Meals and snacks are best when balanced leading to steady blood sugar levels. When we just eat a handful of soda crackers, it fills us for brief period of time, but before long we will feel those hunger pangs once again and cue, hangry all over again.
Reduce your caffeine intake. Is your mood suffering from lack of sleep? Caffeine can impair our ability to sleep well. Start by eliminating afternoon caffeine. The obvious culprits are coffee, tea and some sodas. Chocolate can sometimes even contribute to sleep issues.
Eat more brain food such as raw almonds & walnuts, salmon, avocado, olive oil & other sources of healthy fats. Dark chocolate is also known to release feel good chemicals in the brain.
Fermented foods are rich in probiotics which promotes gut health. Up to 90% of serotonin, a neurotransmitter which contributes to happy feelings is created in the gut. Supporting the health of you gut, supports the health of your brain. Sources of probiotics include plain yogurt, raw sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha & miso.
Keeping these tips and tricks in mind will help support your overall mood. Not only is this helpful for you, your friends and family will thank you.
Photo by Lidya Nada on Unsplash
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