Is it true that eating delicious food can make a bad mood improve?

Jakarta –

When the mood is in a bad mood, many people choose to eat deliciously to improve it or even improve their mood. However, is it true that eating delicious food can improve your mood?

Food is related to emotions. For example, some foods are known as ‘comfort food’ or ‘comfort food’. Eating these foods can improve your mood in a short time.

Psychiatrist and author of the book “Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind”, Dr. Georgia Ede said the term ‘comfort food’ is for foods that can increase blood sugar and the hormone dopamine quickly.

“Consuming ‘comfort food’ can provide a quick and temporary sense of relief when you feel annoyed, anxious or overwhelmed,” he said as quoted by HuffPost (13/2/2024).

However, according to Ede, ironically these foods are usually processed carbohydrates. These types of carbohydrates cause emotional discomfort from the start.

As a solution, there is better food intake. Consuming these foods has a positive impact on a person’s mood and has been scientifically proven to regulate hormones that influence a person’s mood.

How does food affect mood?

When in a bad mood, many people look for a solution by eating well. Photo: iStock

According to research, the efficacy of food to regulate mood is directly related to tryptophan, an essential amino acid that the human body cannot produce itself. Therefore it must be obtained through food.

Tryptophan is found in many commonly consumed foods, including wheat, bananas, milk, tuna, cheese, and chicken.

“Eating foods high in tryptophan can increase serotonin levels in the brain, thereby having a positive impact on depression and loneliness,” said Dr. Raj Dasgupta.

Ede explained that amino acids do influence a person’s mood, but he emphasized that the function of amino acids is more of a regulatory force than a driving force.

“The brain absorbs tryptophan from the bloodstream and uses some of it to make serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate our emotions,” explains Ede.

He added, “Some studies suggest that tryptophan supplements may provide modest mental health benefits, but to my knowledge there are no studies showing that consuming tryptophan-rich foods can treat sadness.”

Foods rich in tryptophan

According to experts, nuts and meat are the two foods richest in tryptophan. Therefore it is directly related to its mood regulating properties.

Ede said that nuts in particular also contain more tryptophan than most other plant foods. About 28 grams of cashew nuts contain 75 mg of tryptophan.

“Chicken and turkey meat also contain tryptophan, which is a building block for serotonin,” said Dasgupta. Consuming it can help the brain produce more serotonin which has the potential to improve mood.

For example, chicken soup is often someone’s ‘comfort food’. Apart from containing tryptophan, chicken soup is a classic comfort food that brings up positive relationship associations and makes a person feel less lonely.

Read the next page to find out the best way to fight a bad mood through food.