Interesting facts related to food

FOOD AND MOOD
We often eat to calm down or cheer up when we are feeling stressed or depressed. Now new research suggests there is a reason: food changes our brain chemistry. These changes powerfully influence our moods. But can certain foods really make us feel better? Nutrition experts say yes. But what should we eat and what should we avoid? Here are the foods that work the best, as well as those that can make a bad day worse.

To outsmart stress

What’s good? Recent research suggests that foods that are high in carbohydrates, such as bread, rice, and pasta, can help you calm down. Researchers say that carbohydrates cause the brain to release a chemical called serotonin. Serotonin makes you feel better.
What’s bad? Many people drink coffee when they feel stress. The heat is soothing and the caffeine in coffee might help you think more clearly. But if you drink too much, you may become even more anxious and irritable.

To soothe the blues

What’s good? Introduce more lean meat, chicken, seafood, and whole grains into your diet. These foods have a lot of selenium. Selenium is a mineral that helps people feel more relaxed and happy. You can try eating a Brazil nut every day. One Brazil nut contains a lot of selenium.
What’s bad? When they are feeling low, many people turn to comfort foods- or foods that make them feel happy or secure. These often include things like sweet desserts. A chocolate bar may you feel better at first, but within an hour you may feel worse that you did before.

(Taken from Cambridge University Press, interchange 2: third edition (2005))