How food affects your mood

What you eat doesn’t just affect your waistline, food affects your mood too. Whilst good, nutritious fare can make you feel good, fuelling up on the wrong foods can leave you tired, grumpy and stressed out. We all want to feel our best, so to help we’ve put together a what-to-eat-guide to get back that blissed out feeling – pronto!

1 When you’re stressed

Junk food, coffee and sugary foods cause an increase in levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Can’t shake that tired feeling? That’s because these diet no-no’s also cause blood sugar levels to drop so you feel fatigued. To feel better, eat a bowl of oats as these contain glutamine to soothe a nervous tummy, munch on dark green leafy vegetables as veggies like spinach and kale are high in magnesium which acts as a nervous system relaxant, and load up on zinc-rich pumpkin seeds to help buffer anxiety levels.

2 When you’re sad

If you’re feeling down in the dumps, a serotonin kickstart could be what you need. Eat eggs, cheese, turkey and oily fish as these contain tryptophan which is the precursor to feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. If you’re craving a sugar fix, ditch milk chocolate for dark as it’s high in health-boosting flavonoid antioxidants.

3 When you’re tired

It’s tempting to reach for a coffee when you’re suffering an energy lull, but the effects are short-lived and send energy levels crashing. Instead make sure to snack around the clock. Think small meals little and often to keep blood sugar levels balanced as this will keep vitality levels pepped up. Snack on oatcakes with hummus, banana topped with nut butter or a handful of nuts and an apple in between main meals.

4 When you’re grumpy

Don’t let your diet control you, even if life’s not going quite your way. Many foods have soothing powers which can help to calm your senses pretty much straightaway. Peppermint tea has a calming effect on nerves whilst oily fish is thought to reduce inflammation and anxiet. Finally, green tea contains a substance called theanine which has  powerful calming benefits.

5 When you’re bored

Eating out of boredom? If you find yourself hotfooting it towards the fridge when your social calendar is empty then it’s time to re-think your eating habits. Try and be more aware when you’re eating. Put your fork down in between meals and chew your food properly. Chug back a large glass of water to check if hunger is being mistaken for thirst, and snack on healthy options like berries and nuts to keep the pounds at bay.