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. Each of these amino acids occurs naturally in the brain and affects some aspect of our mental outlook. Dopamine and norepinephrine both increase mental alertness and concentration.
Noradrenaline eases depression, curbs hunger and improves memory and mental alertness.
Knowing how different foods cause the body to produce certain amino acids can be a useful way to plan a nutritious, low-fat, tasty meal. Enjoying a turkey sandwich before a meeting is much more likely to boost alertness than a plain bagel or a candy bar. Adding chopped turkey to a lunchtime salad will set the proper mind-frame for a productive afternoon at the office or in school. Using food to adjust mood is a fairly new concept, but it is certainly worth exploring. All bodies react to food differently, so it may take experimentation and time to figure out the best balance.