Atlantic Coast Chiropractic

We all are aware that the food we consume is the fuel our bodies use to get through the day, however we may not know that the quality of food may affect our moods. Caffeine jitters or a sugar rush are fairly well known and the grouchiness that results from the inevitable crash that follows isn’t a secret. However, understanding why these things happen and how to avoid them is the key to understanding that certain foods can cause depression and a healthy diet can have a positive effect on our emotions.

How Blood Sugar Works!

The first step to making better dietary choices for improved mood is to understand how blood sugar works with the adrenals. Since the adrenals will release the hormones adrenaline and cortisol as part of the fight or flight response, they will greatly affect the mood.

Matt Reddy, a naturopathic doctor in Denver, simplifies the process as follows: When you eat a sugary or carb heavy food, your blood sugar spikes. Insulin then spikes to compensate for that blood sugar spike, which in turn creates a blood sugar drop. The adrenals then secrete adrenaline and cortisol which cause the jitters or an anxious feeling that some may call uncomfortable.

The only way to avoid these reactions is to increase protein, to try to stabilize blood sugar levels. Caffeine can also cause the same reaction from the adrenals so consider consuming something high in protein prior to drinking coffee in an attempt to avoid the blood sugar spikes and resultant moods.

How Neurotransmitters Work!

There are 22 amino acids that work together to build our neurotransmitters. Some of these are created by our bodies and others are consumed in the foods we eat. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that help communicate information from the brain to the body and if specific neurotransmitters are low they can affect our moods and emotions.

For instance, serotonin is a neurotransmitter whose primary function is to maintain mood balance, specifically a positive outlook and emotional flexibility. A lack of serotonin may possibly result in the following: anger, irritability, anxiety, panic, guilt, a pessimistic outlook, insomnia, and low self-worth.

Another example is GABA, a chemical messenger in the brain that serves to control the fear or anxiety experienced when neurons are overexcited and provide a sense of calm. A GABA deficiency may result from prolonged stress or a nutrient depleting diet.

Endorphins work to protect us from emotional and physical pain, meaning that if this neurotransmitter is low we may struggle with overcoming life’s stressors and may be overly sensitive.

The family of neurotransmitters called the catecholamine’s, is made up of dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. Their primary purpose is to support alertness, concentration energy, and initiative. A deficiency in this area will typically result in a lack of motivation and difficulty concentrating.

Since these neurotransmitters clearly affect emotions it makes sense that this may be the primary cause of a connection between diet and mood. While amino acid content is definitely affected by a diet high in refined foods and caffeine, certain lifestyle issues can also have an affect including excessive stress and a sedentary lifestyle.

Improving the quality of your diet as well as increasing exercise can have a positive effect on the amino acid levels in your body, but you may still want to consider amino acid therapy. However, it is very important to be careful when taking amino acid supplements. Adverse effects are possible when taking too many or the wrong types of amino acids. Please consult a healthcare professional before choosing to begin an amino acid regimen.

Brain Function!

Just as amino acids are the building blocks of neurotransmitters, there are other fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that help to build healthy brain cells. For example, omega 3s are fatty acids that are key but lacking in the typical diet. Since fatty fish, pastured meat, high quality dairy products, walnuts and flax sees aren’t routine in the average diet there is a shortage of omega 3s. Add to this the overabundance of vegetable oils and fried foods, which tend to be high in omega 6s and can cause inflammation and deplete omega 3s, and clearly the typical diet is not good for healthy omega 3s.

Zinc and vitamin B6 are two of the most important nutrients for brain function. The brain requires vitamin and mineral co-factors in order to turn amino acids into their neurotransmitters, without these, brain processes diminish. A deficiency in these important vitamins and minerals can result in the following emotional signs: depression, irritability, anxiety and learning issues.

Inflammatory Foods!

Certain foods provide nutrients that work for the body, other foods certainly work against. A recent study found a correlation between an inflammatory diet and a 41% increase risk of depression. Recent research has also linked chronic, low level inflammation to hear disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and more. This type of inflammation is caused by our immune system reacting to stressors and a poor diet contributes to this problem.

Foods that are likely to trigger inflammation include margarine, refined grains, red meat, and soft drinks. Anti-inflammatory foods include olive oil, wine, leafy greens, yellow vegetables as well as caffeinated coffee.

Digestion Effects!

Understanding the foods that need to be eaten is just the first step. If our bodies are not properly digesting these foods and absorbing the necessary nutrients then diet changes are not going to be effective.

The proteins we consume can only be properly converted to amino acids and subsequently converted to neurotransmitters if our digestion system is working properly. Good gut flora is as important as diet. If there is an imbalance in this area then that will have a negative effect on our body’s ability to digest and absorb valuable nutrients.

As you can see here proper foods, digestive enzymes, and exercise may affect our mood. We can control to a large extent how we feel based on our lifestyle habits. Make that change and take control!