Does Food Affect Mood?

This episode is all about food and gut health….and how it affects your brain and your mood.Processed food, high sugar intake, added hormones, and pesticides all affect your digestive system. Your gut biome cannot break those down easily, which disrupts the bacteria in your gut. Your gut has a direct line to your brain, so this disruption affects your brain and mood. Processed foods include canned food, sugar-coated dried fruits, and salted meat products. Ultra-processed foods include soda, sugary or savory packaged snack foods, packaged bread, buns and pastries, fish or chicken nuggets, and instant noodle soups.Gluten and dairy are known to cause inflammation. This impacts your mood, as well as how alert or awake you feel. Try to eat more ancient grains and non-dairy alternatives. The healthiest alternative of all?  Eat more of the real thing! Choose more organic options. Shop the grocery store exterior, where fresh items are displayed. Try your local farmer’s market or a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture).Ninety percent of serotonin receptors (mood stabilizers) are located in the gut. There is an anatomical and physiological two-way communication between the gut and brain via the vagus nerve. This gut-brain communication helps us better understand the connection between diet and diseases, including depression, anxiety, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), asthma, obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, as well as cognitive and mood problems.Poor gut health also affects stress management, productivity, sleep, emotional functioning, and our overall well-being.The answer is balance. Aim for a balance of good food, exercise, and stress management. Our blog posts and podcasts talk about ALL of these areas and more!Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How can I best serve children in need?Try-at-home tip:  Play “Yes, and….”Mentioned during this podcast:Robyn O'Brien – Austin 2011 – from TEDx TalksSeafood suggestions for heart health from Harvard Health PublishingClean 15 and Dirty DozenOther related resources from The Behavior Hub: Blog Post: Does food really impact the brain and emotions?Podcast: How Food impacts the Brain and EmotionsOur Online Courses: From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate (5 Needs Areas)Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode! Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children The Behavior Hub websiteThe Behavior Hub blogAre you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help! Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.