Food Affects Mood More in Women!
Women. Do you ever notice men in your life who can seemingly eat whatever they want and still feel fine, while you make the slightest dietary discretion and end up moody, irritable, or anxious….research now shows that this phenomenon is actually real! Food actually does boost or break your mood!
Nutrition is one of the key factors affecting our brain health, so what we eat affects our mood. Not only are we in our best of moods simply when we feel good, but our brain and body are more functional when we are fueling them with high-quality foods rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Researchers at Binghamton University in New York looked at dietary patterns, exercise habits and mental health in men and women over the age of 30. They found an association between a healthy lifestyle and better mental health (no surprise there), but the association was stronger for women.
If you struggle with mood or mental health, I urge you to think about the following:
One key finding of the study was that an unhealthy diet had a more profound effect on mood in women than in men, which may also explain women’s susceptibility to mental disease such as anxiety and depression.
Here were some of the most harmful dietary patterns and foods that affect mood in women:
- Eating fast food
- Skipping breakfast
- Consuming caffeine
- Eating high-glycemic carbs
This is not to say that following a healthy diet is fool-proof when it comes to mental health. The study also found that even women who followed a healthy diet still struggled with their mood if situational triggers of mental distress exceeded certain thresholds.
If you struggle with mood or mental health, I urge you to think about the following:
👉🏻 Are you eating a balanced diet?
👉🏻 Do you drink mostly water and limit alcohol and caffeine?
👉🏻How often do you move or exercise?
👉🏻 Do you get fresh air and sunshine every day?
👉🏻 How is your sleep?
👉🏻 What do you do to relieve stress?
👉🏻 Do you have support from family or friends?
We can also look deeper at your underlying biochemistry to see if there are any patterns or imbalances to address such as hormone imbalance, emotional changes, weight concerns, chronic disease or fatigue. Sometimes we find that following a healthy lifestyle is beneficial but not enough to fully overcome deeper issues.
A great place to start if you’re interested in enhancing your mental health is to adopt healthy exercise habits and include foods in your diet that are whole, natural and unprocessed, meaning food that is grown in the ground or on bushes or trees! Some of Dr. Alioto’s top foods to improve your mood are salmon, berries, leafy green veggies and chia and flax seeds.
If your health goals include better mental health and mood, please reach out. Dr. Alioto works with individuals of all ages who suffer from mental health concerns. She provides a root cause and natural approach to your mood and behavior, allowing you to feel your most balanced, healthy self! She offers free consultations to help you understand what to expect and decide if she is a good fit for you.
