Microsoft word - mind+games

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

Source: http://www.advancenutrition.co.uk/uploaded/handouts/FoodandMood.pdf