How food affects your psyche
Anna Jones
12/12/23
Reading time: 8 minutes
How happy would you be if you ate fast food every day from morning to night? Most people realize that eating only this type of food is not the key to a happy, active life. Most of the time it tastes great, but it doesn't exactly have good nutritional values. And people often say: Eat an apple a day and you can forget about the doctor. There is a lot of truth hidden behind this saying.
In this blog article we would like to take a closer look at the topic and find out how food can actually influence the psyche. Even though this area of research is still relatively new, there are exciting findings about our bodies in relation to food that we would like to share.
Increase serotonin through diet
Mental health is often related to diet. Scientists discovered this some time ago. Affected people often have a specific deficiency or excess of certain vitamins and minerals, which can lead to an increased risk of mental illness or slowed recovery.
According to an article from the Oberberg Clinics, people with depression lack two important neurotransmitters: serotonin and norepinephrine. A deficiency of these messenger substances is the reason for typical symptoms of depression such as depression or listlessness.
So is it enough to consume enough rich foods? Unfortunately no. Unfortunately, we cannot overcome this deficiency simply by eating more foods containing serotonin. Fruits like bananas, kiwis and plums are rich in serotonin, but eating them doesn't necessarily replenish your body.
In order to increase serotonin levels through diet, care must be taken to consume the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine. These contribute to the production of serotonin in the brain. According to a study , soybeans, cashews and unsweetened cocoa powder are good sources of tryptophan.
Gut feeling - not just felt in your stomach?
In another blog article we show how smoked and cured meat can noticeably increase the risk of colon cancer due to its high nitrate levels.
But it's not just the risk of cancer: another study shows that similar meat products with elevated nitrate levels are closely linked to psychological disorders. People hospitalized for a manic episode were 3.5 times more likely to have eaten meat products treated with nitrates.
The possible reason for this connection could have its origin in the intestinal flora. Consuming nitrates has a negative effect on the intestinal flora, which in turn is crucial for mental health.
However, scientists cannot rule out the possibility that mental illness is the result of an unbalanced intestinal flora.
Research into intestinal flora in general is still at a relatively early stage. Research over the last decade has shown that gut bacteria can influence our emotions and cognitive abilities. For example, some bacteria produce oxytocin, a hormone produced by the body that promotes increased social behavior. Other bacteria produce substances that cause symptoms of depression and anxiety. Still others produce substances that help us become calmer under stress.
Although this research is still relatively new, it presents an interesting new insight into various diseases and conditions.
Biology aside...
Although scientific facts are very interesting and give us a sense of the role of food in relation to the psyche, it is not just about the biological process. Food can not only make us very happy, but also unhappy. In today's diet culture, we are taught to weight certain foods as "bad." Consuming it brings great guilt and makes us feel bad.
If we ate too many sweets, our body wouldn't feel great. But unhealthy food is still part of a balanced diet. We can treat ourselves to something, reward ourselves and eat whatever we feel like eating together. We often associate sweet dishes with happy occasions and memories: we eat cake on our birthdays, we give chocolate as gifts, we bake cookies with our children. So unhealthy food also has a positive impact on our general well-being.
A balanced diet should be just that: balanced. This means that if you want to treat yourself to a good portion of fries or a delicious cake every now and then, you should do exactly that without guilt and without stress.
Have you already discovered our wide selection of vegan products and tastiest recipe ideas ? With us you will find everything you need for a balanced diet: whether a delicious burger, beautiful cupcakes or a colorful salad ... We have a lot of recipes for all situations that are guaranteed to make you happy.
Conclusion: how food affects your psyche
You see what a big influence your food can have on your psyche. The ingredients and nutritional values of the food as well as social norms can influence your mood.
In summary, a balanced, healthy diet is the key to a happy life. Excessive meat consumption has a negative impact on your health and should therefore be reduced. With our sustainable products, most of which are made from peas, we make your transition easier and make a balanced diet child's play.
Click through our diverse range and discover our vegan treats - they are sure to make you smile ☺
Anna studied German and Romance languages in England and has been vegan for 8 years. She is a big fan of fresh Köttbullar and enjoys researching news and facts in the area of veganism. If you have any comments or requests, please write to her here: online@greenforce.com
