When we are sad, what do we do? We eat ice cream. Why do you ask? Food makes us feel happy. Food can change our mood, from stressed to satisfied.
Why do we eat? Most of us would agree that we eat to survive. Food plays a vital role in our lives; it provides the nutrients that we require to keep us fit and healthy and grow, develop, and stay active. There is no single person who does not like eating.
How Food Makes Us Feel Happy
1. Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters send messages to the areas in our brain that help with eating, hunger, and these areas signal dopamine to be released. It brings about a change in our mood and helps us feel good.
2. Relive Happy Memories
Food is as much routine as breathing. At times we associate our life events with food; for example, the taste or the smell of food takes us back to some memory in the past, making us nostalgic. Comfort food eases all our tension away too.
3. Form Connections
When we sit together to eat, we don’t look at our plates and eat in silence; the interaction leads to forming bonds. How else does food help us connect with people? Suppose you want to invite your friends and family for dinner or a party. What do you do? Do you call them just for dinner?
Call your friends and family over to help you in the process of cooking lovely meals; cooking food together builds relations by starting conversations, getting to know each other better, and leads to smiling and laughter. Next time, call your friends to help you cook dinner, to make more memories.
4. Skill Development
Cooking is an important skill. Whether you are an expert in cooking food or not, food brings us together to learn new skills and develop the old ones, and most importantly, it brings joy and helps us connect with people. Acquiring a skill that helps sustain life while having the time of your life, what more could you ask for!
5. Serotonin
Serotonin plays a vital role in regulating your mood; it helps regulate feelings of happiness, anxiety, stress, eating, sleeping, and digestion. In other words, it acts as a mood regulator; too little of it can lead to depression and anxiety, whereas too much of it can lead to shivering, fever, and diarrhea. To help maintain a perfect serotonin balance, you can try eating foods rich in tryptophan, an essential amino acid.
Foods to add to the diet:
- Avocados: Avocados have a high level of protein and a rich in omega-3, which helps boost mood and the health of your brain. Avocados reduce stress and anxiety among people.
- Mushrooms: Containing a significant amount of vitamin D, mushrooms help to reduce depression and anxiety. Incorporate mushrooms in your diet for rich eyesight and a healthy tan.
- Grapes: Grapes contain antioxidants that are proven to boost your mood.
- Eggs: Egg proteins help boost blood plasma, which in turn helps increase serotonin levels. While eating eggs, do not forget the yolk. The yolk ensures brain development and healthy hair growth.
- Chia seeds: Chia seeds have a high level of nutrients, and an essential element called tryptophan. Eat Chia seeds after soaking them in water or including them in your juice or any health drink. Eating dry Chia seeds may lead to choking.
- Pineapple: Pineapple contains a supplementing protein for tryptophan; the combination helps boosts serotonin in the brain.
- Salmon: Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and provides other nutritional benefits such as lowering blood pressure.
Food makes us feel happy but eating the wrong food will make us unhappy in the long run. What you eat will have an impact on your mind and health. Eat food that’s good for the body and mind. Food speaks of culture and people.
Eating healthy food will ensure that you feel happy in both the short term and the long term. So, keep your diet on the healthy side!