Can Food Affect Your Mood?

Can food affect your mood? The short answer is yes; food affects your mood and mental health!  According to Dr. Eva Selhub, of Harvard Health Publishing, “your brain is always on.”  It needs a constant supply of fuel from the food you eat.  What you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain, which impacts your mood, among other things.

Eating a diet focused on fruits, veggies, whole grains, fish and seafood, with modest amounts of dairy and lean meats can boost mental health and overall mood.  Refined and processed foods and diets high in refined sugars are harmful to your brain.  These refined foods can also affect insulin regulation, cause inflammation, produce toxins, and even worsen mood disorders such as depression.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep and appetite, inhibit pain, and mediate your mood.  With the majority of your body’s serotonin being produced in your gut, it is important to know the “good bacteria” in your intestines influences the production of serotonin.  “Good bacteria” can also guard against toxins and limit inflammation.  In other words, a healthy diet can improve how well nutrients are absorbed from your food, help serotonin production, and improve those neural pathways between your gut and your brain.

According to the Center for Translation Research, research has shown that a low carb diet (ketogenic) reduces the frequency of seizures in epileptic children.  Low B12 can cause fatigue, lethargy, depression, poor memory, and is associated with mania and psychosis.  Folic acid deficiencies in pregnancy can lead to children with developmental problems and depression later in life.  Low niacin can lead to dementia, diarrhea and itchy skin.

The American Psychiatric Association has stated that limited access to nutritious food can impact mental health, and is directly linked to psychiatric, including depression and anxiety.  Food insecurity can worsen existing mental health conditions.  Malnutrition can impair cognitive function and regulation of emotions, which can affect mood disorders and behavioral issues.  Programs that alleviate food insecurity are vital to improve the mental health of food-insecure children.  Give your body and brain the fuel it needs for better mood and mental health.

For more information, check out this YouTube video, “Mental Health and Food/BTN High”, by ABC News Australia, Dec 2023

Want to learn more about the Embrace Mental Wellness initiative? View the archives.