During the winter months, shorter day lengths and cold weather may keep us cooped up inside. Cabin fever may set in. Understanding how food affects mood may help you eat your way to a better attitude. Protein and carbohydrates stimulate production of amino acids in the brain. By eating certain foods, we can control how we feel throughout the day.
Amino acids dictate how the body responds to stress, hunger and other stimuli.
For example, carbohydrates trigger the production of seratonin, which is known to elevate moods and promote calmness. When people experience job-related stress, they may reach for a chocolate to calm their nerves. Enjoying the taste of the candy may be calming, but the body also responds to the production of seratonin, which is stimulated by the carbohydrates in the candy. Unfortunately, the high simple sugar content in the candy produces only a brief elevation, so it is important to find sources of carbohydrates that are low in simple sugar, like fruit or juice. Protein, on the other hand, bolsters the production of dopamine, norepinephrine and noradrenaline.