New Year, New You

December 29, 2017

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Improved Mood through Good Food

Cheers to 2018! With the fresh New Year already here, brings forth new opportunities, challenges, and goals for your health. This naturally may stir up a big batch of emotions melting inside you. Since your health is a priority, wouldn’t be nice to kick start a mindset full of positive confidence as opposed to negative moodiness, all with good food? Research from the Journal of Consumer Psychology indicates that positive moods enhance performance on attaining health goals. Read on to learn how food impacts your mood.

Brainy Background

The brain, considerably one of most important organs in the human body, is a powerful and complex tool that orchestrates how the rest of your body should symphonize. Brain cells, referred to as neurons; thrive on communication with the help of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters act as chemical messengers that affect your feelings, energy levels, and overall mood. Although scientists have discovered over 100 different brain chemicals, it boils down to three, crucial for mood stabilization and balance. The trio consists of serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Having increased and decreased levels of these neurotransmitters reveal why you experience an array of emotions. So what’s the nutrition link? The trio of neurotransmitters is only manufactured through nutrition, specifically amino acids, serving as the building blocks of protein. Thus, what you eat or don’t eat will impact how you feel. To keep it simple, check out the mood and food equation below.

Amino Acids -> Neurotransmitters = Feelings

Mood & Nourishing Neuro-Nutrients Connection

Got a case of the blues and feeling caught deep down in the dumps? It’s no surprise because feelings of depression, negativity, and insomnia are associated when serotonin is in short supply. In fact, most anti-depressant medications work to increase the level of available serotonin in the brain. But you don’t need drugs to regulate your serotonin, just the amino acid tryptophan. When adequate levels are supplied through diet you will feel cool, calm, and collected, equaling positive vibes throughout the mind.

Lagging, dragging, and nagging your way through the day? Common signs of decreased levels of dopamine are feeling lethargic, having low motivation, and quite possibly, the inability to experience pleasure. Luckily, dopamine has an excitatory physiology effect on the body which translates into a mind full of energy and alertness. Studies even show that people tend to think more quickly and clearly when their brains are producing large amounts of this chemical. The building block for dopamine is the amino acid tyrosine, leading to an upbeat mind.

Do you feel as though you’re like the Duracell Energizer Battery Bunny, always stuck on the “on” mode? Symptoms such as anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and being tense appear when gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is low. When provided with the peaceful amino acid glutamine, your body will tell your mind to chill out and ultimately lead to a state of serenity and relaxation.