Many aspects of our lives are managed via our mind—our thoughts, actions, breathing, heartbeat, senses and more. Like all else in our bodies, these processes require energy—in the form of the foods we consume. By paying attention to the foods we put into our bodies, we are able to manipulate how well our brains perform—physically, intellectually, and emotionally. We discuss in the below article how the food we eat can affect our mood and energy levels.
Research has shown that there is a correlation between mood and meals. The rapidly developing field of dietary psychiatry is finding numerous connections between what we eat and the varieties of microorganism that live in our guts, which impact how we perform, how we feel and even how we think and behave.
In her book 10% Human, Alanna Collen wonderfully presents how our body’s microbes hold the key to health and happiness. She reveals how microbes run 90 per cent of our bodies, which challenges the way we have previously seen diet, disease and medicine.
Within our guts, we host over 100 trillion microbes. That is 100,000,000,000,000 !!! Approximately 1,500 x the number of human beings on the planet – all within our gut! How crazy is that?
How Food Impacts Our Mood.
Despite their physical distance, the brain and the gut are very much intertwined. Our emotions affect the inner working of the gut and vice versa. The activity of the gut can affect our mind and behaviour.
Our digestive programmes and inner workings do not just help us to digest food; they also guide our feelings and our emotions. Our bodies produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps keep watch over sleep and appetite, mediate moods and inhibit affliction. Ninety-five per cent of serotonin is produced in our gastrointestinal tract, lined with hundreds of thousands of nerve cells or neurons.
Contemporary research studies indicate that when men and women take probiotics, including "good" bacteria such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus, found in Beautifully Nourished's Fibre Pro, their anxiety levels, perception of stress and mental outlook enhance, compared with those who don't take probiotics.
How Food Affects Our Energy Levels?
Food provides us with a natural energy boost to sustain our mood and our bodies throughout the day. To do this, consuming adequate nutrients is key. Our bodies and our cells LOVE nourishment and similar to a car without gasoline, when we don't consume adequate, or the right nutrients, our body's can run low on energy.
Whist the wonderful study of gut microbes have made substantial breakthroughs, the field remains very much in its infancy. For now, we recommend readers to consume combinations of complex carbohydrates and lean protein, fermented foods, colourful fruits and vegetables, a handful of nuts, a relatively high plant based % of the diet and supplementing with probiotics.
Take Away
Food is the prime factor, which determines our physical and mental health. It is not only a source of the body's energy requirements but also a pillar of a healthy lifestyle. Focus on your plate, portion size and ingredients to live a fully energised and happy life.