| How many of us believe that food we intake plays a | | | | are eaten on most days, by most people, perhaps |
| major role in our mental and physical health? All of us | | | | because they are generally considered healthy to eat. |
| know that it is very important to have proper diet to | | | | The foods and drinks that most often cause |
| avoid physical illness. But, how many of us have | | | | problems are those containing alcohol, sugar, caffeine, |
| realised that it also plays a vital role in improving our | | | | chocolate, wheat (such as bread, biscuits, and cakes), |
| mental health. I would say less than 1%.Hope you | | | | dairy products (such as cheese), certain artificial |
| agree with me. With this in mind let us move forward | | | | additives (or E numbers) and hydrogenated fats. |
| in understanding the process. | | | | Other commonly eaten foods, such as yeast, corn, |
| Food and our mind have cause-and-effect relationship. | | | | eggs, oranges, soya and tomatoes, may also cause |
| What is this cause and effect? It is nothing but | | | | symptoms for some people, sometimes. |
| Newton's third law - "Every action has an equal and | | | | Influence of food on thoughts: |
| opposite reaction". It is as simple as this. Whatever | | | | Food is made up of nutrients, which include protein, |
| we intake undergoes a chemical reaction and then is | | | | carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. Proteins |
| converted to energy - positive or negative. | | | | and carbohydrates play vital role. These two |
| Fluctuations in blood sugar levels and pressure levels | | | | macro-nutrients are instrumental in the manufacture |
| are associated with changes in mood and energy, and | | | | and transport of the neurotransmitters, or brain |
| are affected by what we eat. The ways we think, | | | | chemicals, the chemical substances, made by the |
| feel and behave are influenced by what we've eaten. | | | | brain and other organs, that transmit thought. The |
| Also, low levels of the mineral zinc leads to eating | | | | main neurotransmitters for our purposes are the |
| disorders and low levels of omega-3 oils leads to | | | | alertness chemicals (dopamine, norepineprine, and |
| depression. These are scientifically proved. | | | | adrenaline) and the calming chemical (serotonin). |
| Influence of thoughts on food: | | | | Three of the many amino acids in protein contribute |
| A very important fact is that, when we cook, our | | | | to making these neurotransmitters: tyrosine, |
| thoughts play a major role. Do you know how? Let | | | | phenylalanine, and tryptophan. The first two are |
| me explain. For example, if we are in an irritated | | | | involved in the building of dopamine, norepinephrine, |
| mood while cooking, the taste of food will be hot | | | | and adrenaline; these are the "alertness chemicals," |
| even if we have put the correct proportion of | | | | and cause us to be mentally energetic and alert. |
| ingredients. Our thoughts flow into the food we cook | | | | Tryptophan is the precursor to the brain chemical |
| and produce an impact by reducing or increasing the | | | | serotonin, which is the "calming chemical" and makes |
| nutrition of the food and also affect the taste of the | | | | us more relaxed and calm. |
| food. There are examples where food even after 2 | | | | A large amount of protein foods does not make |
| to 3 days of preservation has not got spoiled due to | | | | things even better, but instead creates the opposite: |
| positive thoughts during cooking. Thus, food can heal | | | | sleepiness and lethargy. When you eat a |
| our illness if cooked with positive thoughts. Hence we | | | | carbohydrate food with some protein (as in a grain |
| will have to make sure that we don't fight with our | | | | and bean combination, or a chicken sandwich), the |
| husband or children before cooking, as it will highly | | | | carbohydrate will allow for more tryptophan uptake |
| influence the food we cook and will lead to illness- | | | | by the brain, and create a calm and focused mood. |
| both physical and mental. | | | | The most vital substance for a healthy mind and |
| A fundamental thing for you to consider will be: is | | | | body is water. Water is the best medicine. Drink at |
| there any one food or type of food that I eat nearly | | | | least 6 to 8 glasses of water. Also if we follow |
| every day or in particularly large amounts? The basis | | | | proper diet and eat at regular intervals prescribed by |
| of a healthy diet is about achieving a balance | | | | our dietician we can control our mental health, and |
| between wide varieties of foods, where the variety | | | | thus our thoughts and emotions. |
| is spread out over a number of days. Certain foods | | | | |