You are what you eat

Before you go and grab that soda pop out of your refrigerator, you might want to read this. In a recent article by Mercola, researchers have found striking evidence of not only how the things we eat and drink can impact our physical health, but how certain foods can be a driving force on the food-mood connection.

For instance, did you know that the way you feel and how you perceive life around you can be dramatically affected by the foods you eat and the liquids you drink? Seriously. We have always been made aware of the effects of eating too much of certain food items or not eating enough of certain things and how this can be detrimental to our physical health -- but having too much or not enough foodstuffs can be just as damaging to your psyche and your emotions, too.

As some of you may be aware, certain ingredients like artificial sweeteners or food dyes can trigger mind health issues. Just as with any man-made preparation, synthetic sweeteners and dyes are known to produce side effects such as panic attacks and even depression.

Sometimes, individuals get caught up in negative emotional cycles, not knowing why they feel the way they do; or why they have such drastic mood swings. Life is going great, the job is doing well, family and friends are supportive but then out of nowhere they suddenly feel restless, anxious, and even depressed about their lives. It is during these times, when folks need to take a step back and truly reflect on not only what may have triggered their mood swings, but to honestly think about what they have been ingesting in the past days, weeks or months. That old saying about "you are what you eat" (and possibly what you are not eating enough of) factors in more than you may realize.

For instance, were you aware that bananas are an excellent source of dopamine? Dopamine is that fantastic natural food source that helps to boost your emotional and nervous system health. If you are feeling anxious or down, grab a banana and enjoy the natural injection of wholesome goodness.

A cup of coffee now and then will not hurt you - it may even help you! Though the jury is often still out when it comes to caffeine's affect on health, it does appear to spur brain activity by releasing BDNF proteins -- which leads to new neuron growth. If you have low BDNF levels, it affects your cognitive functioning and thinking abilities. When you are not thinking rationally, this may lead to a number of mental mood swings.

Feeling irritable and anxious? You might be suffering from hypoglycemia. Food items like honey or a cup of orange juice might help alleviate these symptoms.

Many times, the emotions we feel are not always caused by life events but by the things we are putting into our bodies, or by the essential nutrients we are lacking. To get back on track and to achieve optimal balance in your emotional health, seek ways to improve your nutritional intake. It is also important to make lifestyle changes that encourage healthy balance in fitness and sleeping patterns. After all, you are what you eat.

Joan Marie Ambrose -- Author, Creative Writer, Motivational Speaker

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