Does Mood Dictate Your Food Intake?

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We often turn to food to alleviate negative emotions, however it’s also true that we use food just as much to reinforce positive emotions. Think of the birthday party, job promotion, a win for your favourite team, or sealing that important business deal. How do we celebrate? With food of course!

Certain foods have been termed “feel-good” foods. This is because they contain a substance called tryptophan, which produces the neuro-chemical serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is the chemical that helps regulate appetite, sleep patterns, and mood.

Healthy foods containing tryptophan include:

• Meat
• Poultry
• Fish
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Avocados
• Legumes
• Soya

I’m sure few would disagree that eating was intended to be a pleasurable experience. This enjoyment comes from a variety of tastes, colours, smells, and textures. However, the sad thing is that many people have actually lost the joy in what they eat.

What do I mean? Well, it’s not that the taste of food is now bad, but that what the senses enjoy quickly turns into feelings of guilt and remorse as soon as it’s eaten.

Are you in this love-hate relationship with food?

What is emotional eating?

Generally speaking, emotional hunger comes on suddenly, whereas physical hunger occurs gradually.

If you’re unsure whether you’re eating in response to emotions, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Is my eating paired with an upsetting emotion?
• Am I eating in secret?
• Does my eating feel out of control?
• Do I continue eating despite feeling full?
• Do I feel guilty after I eat?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you should discuss these matters with a qualified professional. This may be a difficult step, however ultimately they can help you manage your emotions without resorting to food.

Interestingly in the American Demographic Journal (2000) Brian Wansink said, “The types of comfort foods a person is drawn toward varies depending on their mood. People in happy moods prefer foods such as pizza or steak (32%). Sad people reached for ice cream and cookies 39% of the time, and 36% of bored people opened up a bag of potato chips.”

So, does mood affect your choice of food?

Unfortunately, allowing our mood to dictate food intake often has a knock-on effect of weight gain, which in turn increases the feeling of shame and guilt. This is the vicious circle you need to break out of.

If you use food for comfort it is absolutely vital that you address the emotional issues first. Many emotional eaters try to cure their weight problem by going on another diet, however this doesn’t work, and will merely add to the roller coaster ride you’re already on.

So, what can you do?

There’s no doubt trying to figure out what’s been causing overeating can be difficult to understand. However, be assured that it is possible! Here are a few basic suggestions:

#1 Write a list of emotions that lead to overeating, beside each one note down ways to overcome this problem or situation. Planning is very important in overcoming old habits.

#2 Access your social support network. Having a team of positive, warm, caring people around you can make a huge difference. If your friends and family aren’t too supportive ask that they try to be, or sign up to classes, groups or clubs in your local area as a way of making new friends.

#3 Be aware of your danger zones and know how to handle them. For example, if you can’t refuse particular foods at the canteen, prepare your own lunch and eat at the local park with a friend.

If you tend to binge at in the evening, perhaps removing certain foods from your kitchen would help, such as:

• Biscuits, sweets, chocolate, nuts, potato chips
• Sweet cake and doughnuts
• Ice cream and desserts
• Sugared soft drinks
• Alcohol
• Anything else you habitually binge on

#4 Be patient with yourself. Think of it like a journey, which may take some time. Remember, any movement towards a healthier life are steps in the right direction.

You may also be interested in: Get Rid of Emotional Eating Once and For All.

Have you overcome overeating? What are your tips? Please share them, they may be helpful to other readers.

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