The relationship between food and mood can often be overlooked. Our mood and how we feel can determine what food we choose to eat, food and mood affects can be due to the nutrient content to some extent, though it is also due to the pleasure and reward affects too. If we are feeling anxious or stressed or tired, then we’re more likely to choose a food that provides a pleasure effect, and it may not be the healthiest food. We may seek pleasure by eating chocolate, crisps, pizza, ice cream, sweets, or an alcoholic drink — to self-soothe.
When we are stressed, the body releases a hormone called cortisol, this alone can cause a detriment to our health, though ‘comfort’ foods if unhealthy add to long-term health issues from the added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats. This causes, spikes in blood sugar and blood pressure and can then lead to even greater irritability and stress — as well as brain fog, poor memory, and low energy. Although it may feel good in that moment of time, indulging in such a ‘treat’ can create a recurring cycle of boosting your cortisol levels and seeking even more solace in food, making you feel worse and potentially even more stressed.
Furthermore, there is some evidence to show that too many “treats” can shift your gut microbiome and gut-brain relationship. The gut-brain connection between your gastrointestinal [GI] tract and central nervous system goes both ways, if you feel stressed, it can display in your GI system as a stomach ache or IBS [irritable bowel syndrome). It can also go the other way, too, if you are ill or have a poor diet, it can affect your cognitive health and make you feel much worse.
Whilst it may feel natural to reach for a snack or choose an unhealthy convenient food to ‘throw’ in the oven in times of need. Doing it regularly can develop into a problem of subconscious actions and before you know it can become a ‘normal’ routine. This can potentially lead to a cyclical routine of unhealthy ‘comfort’ food, feeding the negative feelings which in turn creates more negative feelings such as guilt and ultimately affecting your self-esteem.
Sometimes we can’t help the way we feel. The important thing is to try to recognise and understand what is going on and the reasons why we are doing it. By doing so, will create an awareness, and with this awareness brings choice. A choice for us to choose a healthier food, such as fruit or nuts for example. A choice to seek comfort from other things in life, such as going for a walk, reading a book, meditation or any hobby we might choose to do. Doing so will not only improve our physiological health but boost our mood to help us feel better and instead create a cycle of positive choices.
If you are experiencing difficulty with food in anyway, be it food choices, weight issues or you are noticing your mental health is affecting your food choices and feel stuck with how you are coping, I am able to support you as a counsellor online in the UK or in person, in Chester. You can find out more about my counselling work here. I am also a performance coach and able to offer online sessions in the UK or in person, in Chester. You can find out more about my work as a coach here.