Enhance your Mood with Food.
Do you get Hangry, suffer from low mood or poor energy? Learn to enhance your mood with food.
Why do we get hangry?
Do you find you get bad tempered or irritable due to hunger?
When our blood sugar gets too low, it triggers a number of hormones, including cortisol (a stress hormone) and adrenaline (the fight-or-flight hormone). These hormones are released into our bloodstream to rebalance our blood sugar.
However, low blood sugar can interfere with our brain function that controls our impulses and regulates our behaviours such as aggression.
Mood Enhancing Food
You may not have experienced ‘Hanger’ but I am sure you have experienced low energy or a bad mood due to hunger.
Carbohydrates are an essential nutrient related to our mood but not just any old carbohydrate. High fibre carbohydrates packed with micronutrients such as whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables.
Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) affect our mood. They help release energy from food, regulate chemical reactions along with supporting our immune function.
Hormones and Mood
Serotonin is a key hormone that is responsible for stabilising our mood, happiness and feelings of well-being.
This hormone impacts our entire body. It enables the communication between brain cells and other nervous system cells.
Serotonin also aids sleeping, eating, and digestion.
Although you can’t obtain serotonin from food we can consume an amino acid called Trytophan which converts to serotonin in your brain. There is a little hiccup along the way as tryptophan can’t cross the blood brain barrier BUT if consumed along with carbohydrates we can ‘hack’ the system.
Tips to Enhance Mood
So what can you do to avoid hanger, low energy and low mood?
Listen to your body. Learn to eat INTUITIVELY. Don’t rely on rules about how and when you should eat, what does your body need?
- Eat a balanced breakfast
- Stay hydrated
- Consume good fats
- Make sure you get (at least) your 5-a-day
- Choose the right Carbs
- Avoid processed food
- Manage caffeine
Food to Enhance Mood
As I have mentioned above, complex carbohydrates full of fibre and micronutrients is a good place to start as these foods will keep you fuller for longer and balance your energy levels.
Foods to increase your serotonin levels include:
- Lean protein such as chicken and turkey
- Oily fish
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Peanuts
- Pumpkin and sesame seeds
If you would like a couple of recipes to get you started reply to this email (if you are already on my mailing list) or DM me your preferred email address and I will send them to you.
Alternatively, arrange a virtual chat and cuppa to discuss your personal needs further, I would love to help you.