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Is There Such a Thing as a Good Mood Diet?

There just might be, Some scientists claim there is an explanation for that burst of good cheer when we eat certain foods, and that applying this to a regular diet may help us keep a steadier upbeat mood. The secret: snacking on readily digested – but carefully timed and portioned -- carbohydrates that raise the level of the chemical serotonin in the brain, which is how anti-depressant medication works.
Two scientists from MIT recently stated in their findings that such carb snacking may be more effective for women because they produce substantially less serotonin than men do. This does not mean, of course, that men can’t give this a shot – after all, cheer begets cheer. So try the following measures, and see if you perk up more easily with these two easy steps. (Reminder: as with any diet plan, be sure to check this with your healthcare provider, especially if you’re a diabetic or pre-diabetic.)

Include protein in each of your three meals. This will raise levels of tryptophan, a chemical that eventually turns to serotonin.
The best sources of tryptophan are poultry, seafood and lean meat.

Have a small carbohydrate snack about 3 or 4 hours after each meal or about 1 hour before your next one. In this case, it is best if your stomach is empty and that you limit protein between meals. The carbohydrates should be easily digestible – such as one or two oatmeal cookies, a third of a whole wheat bagel, or a slice of whole grain bread. This will cause tryptophan to enter your brain, where it is metabolized into serotonin. Elevated serotonin will improve your mood within 20 to 30 minutes.

Here’s the best part: according to experts, if you follow these simple rules, you will also fall asleep more quickly at night, because at the end of the day, your brain metabolizes serotonin into the natural sleep aid melatonin. From happy to sleepy, all by way of a healthy snack. Can it get much cheerier than that?  As Hodgson Mill puts it, it’s goodness from sunrise to sunset..