Mind Games Food may have the power to affect your mood
Our mind is a complex, interactive process. In some cases, food and chemicals can influence our mood and behaviour. In addition, it would appear that some of us might be genetically prone to unstable moods and depression. Triggers to imbalanced moods
♦ High intake of stimulants like caffeine
eating foods that we might be allergic to.
High stress levels
Work, family and social pressures can add to
Stress from any source can lead to an increase
the load. Insulin responds by bringing the
in blood sugar levels. The stress hormone
blood glucose level down. Sometimes insulin
adrenaline brings about a release of sugar
brings down the blood sugar level too quickly
from its stores in the liver and muscles. The
extra glucose in the bloodstream ensures that
lethargic, moody, aggressive, irritable,
depressed and sleeping badly. We usually
emergency situation. Usually we are not in an
emergency situation. Instead we are becoming
coffee, and so our mood can yo-yo over the
stressed from the regular intake of stimulants
like nicotine and caffeine, or are regularly
Imbalanced diets Food allergies
Food allergies can upset glucose balance
glucose levels and lack essential nutrients
Gluten, found in rye, oats, wheat and barley
and casein in milk products are known brain
vitamins that are required to help ensure
regulated. The effects are similar to stress
aggression, irritability, depression and poor
Toxicity
individually evaluated. Most people fare
well on a complex carbohydrate diet. About
nicotine, lead, cadmium, and environmental
25% of people handle starchy carbohydrates
from grains and alcohol poorly. This again,
can lead to an imbalance in blood glucose
Hormone imbalances
leading to the symptoms described above.
Depression after childbirth is reasonably
common. The sudden drop in oestrogen and
nutrients for blood sugar regulation and also
progesterone after birth is thought to be part
is a building block for neurotransmitters,
of the problem. Nutrient deficiencies are
also implicated. Similarly, depression and
seeds and wholegrains are vital for brain
associated with depression and decreased
Genetic predisposition
depression and mental illness due to their
Foods that balance mood
unique biochemistry. Your dietary therapist
will refer you to a nutrition consultant
should it appear likely that a hereditary
For further reading of information that may
affect mood, see the handouts on Sugar Detoxification and Stress Management.
Resources
♦ Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy – David Burns. Avon Books. ISBN – 0380810336 ♦ The Food Doctor Everyday Diet – Ian Marber 2005. Dorling Kinsley. ISBN – 140530605X
♦ British Nutrition Foundation – information
sheet on mood and food: www.nutrition.org.uk (search for “mood and food”)
Your dietary programme will take into account the
NS3UK Ltd Centre for Nutrition Education 2006
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Mind Games 
Imbalanced diets