The age-old connect between foods and our emotions are based on chemicals called neurotransmitters in our brain, which are connected to the food we eat. While some neurotransmitters can make us alert, others calm us down. Like protein foods make us more attentive and increase energy while carbohydrates make us calm and reduce tension.
That is one of the reasons why moods influence our food choices wherein, when we are happy and in a celebratory mood we tend to eat rich foods like desserts and when we are stressed out for our comfort foods. Also one of the reasons, that when a person is angry and depressed, he/she might skip food altogether. Ancient medical sciences explain in detail the food-mood connect several centuries ago. According to this, foods are grouped into sattvic, rajasic and tamasic foods.
Sattvic foods are cereals, pulses, honey, fruits and vegetables – these help to keep us calm and composed. Rajasic foods are coffee, tea, fish, eggs, chocolate, etc which increase mental energy and certain emotions like jealousy and anger. Tamasic foods are alcohol and other items and these promote indifference, anger, lethargy and going by what ancient Indian science says, sattvic foods would help a great deal to relieve depression and trigger positive emotions.
However, in modern science we believe that complex carbohydrates that come from whole grains and pulses help to release serotonin which calms a person. Proteins would help to elevate mood in a positive manner and that is why it is necessary to include them in your breakfast. Caffeine, on the other hand, temporarily makes the mind alert which soon dips. Food deprivation or crash diets can also mess with your moods. Lack of adequate foods and nutrition can make a person deficient not only physically but also mentally.
