Is Junk Food Affecting Your Mood?

DEFINITELY!  What we put into our bodies and they way we feel are DIRECTLY related.

Let me ask you these questions:

Do you ever feel stressed?  Do you ever feel moody?  Do you ever have low energy? Do you ever snap at your friends and family? Do you feel anxious or depressed?

I’m going to guess that you said “yes” to at least 1 of these questions.

It’s been stated time and time again by many doctors that we have two brains.  One being our regular brain inside our head and the other being our gut or digestive tract.

I found this passage fascinating from Dr. Mercola:

“…both of which [gut and brain] are created from the same tissue during fetal development.

These two systems are connected via your vagus nerve, the tenth cranial nerve that runs from your brain stem down to your abdomen. It is now well established that the vagus nerve is the primary route your gut bacteria use to transmit information to your brain.” Read full article here.

So cool!  Naturally what we put in our stomachs is going to affect our mood for better or for worse.  One of THE BIGGEST offenders of our moods is processed food, otherwise known as junk food.

Junk food contains trans fats, artificial sweeteners (NO GOOD), caffeine, MSG, artificial colors, preservatives and a host of other ingredients which would take way too long to list in all their sneaky names.  These fake ingredients upset our digestive track, stress our bodies out and provide absolutely no nutrition.  When we fill up on junk food we naturally eat less nutrient dense foods.

Our diet affects our blood sugar levels and our brain chemicals like dopamine and seratonin.  Our diet affects our enzyme levels which are important for digesting our food and turning it into energy, and also a diet low in nutrients can mean that our bodies become nutrient deficient which can lead to many problems.

Sugar alone has some major detrimental affects on hormones, mood and well-being.  If you’re going to start eliminating foods from your diet start with foods containing sugar and anything processed.

I know easier said than done right?

The best foods to add to your diet are probiotic rich foods, fruits, veggies, and proteins.  A balanced and healthy gut is a balanced mind.

If you are dealing with any type of mental/mood issue I can empathize.  I know what it’s like to deal with anxiety frequently.  It’s awful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.  Just know that you can manage conditions and heal your body and food is a great starting point.

Do you have questions about anxiety or have a special topic you would like covered?  Let me know in the comments below.

Have a wonderful, healthy day,

~Hannah