Neurotransmitters and Mood With Food

Scientists have long studied the effects of nutrition on health, and we are aware of the consequences that  poor eating habits and too many calories can have on the body, such as obesity, increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.  The physical consequences of unheathy eating habits are huge and long-lasting manifesting as co-morbid conditions.

But we don’t often think about the link between what we eat and drink and the affect on our moods. One of the big reasons for craving carbohydrates is the chemical effect they have on our moods.  Emotional eating is a result of wanting to change our moods, our emotions.  Food can do that.  We’ve learned that all too well.

Interestingly, choosing one food over another can be used to your advantage, helping to offset negative emotions and change the way you feel for the better, at least temporarily. Your diet can also have a less positive effect on the way you feel.  If you indulge and eat out of control, the impact on your mood and self-esteem has dramatic negative consequences.  Daily eating out of control is a big contributing factor to low-esteem and low self-worth.

Emotions are linked to certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Three neurotransmitters in particular — dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin — have been studied in relation to food, and this research has shown that neurotransmitters are produced in the brain from components of certain foods.
A calmer effect has been associated with serotonin production. A stable brain serotonin level is associated with a positive mood state. Many carbohydrates, such as bread, cereal, pasta and candy, can produce this temporary increase in serotonin and a calming effect.  Serotonin, also known as the “feel good” chemical are sought after in those that have food and emotional eating issues.  Many anti-depressants are seotonin uptake inhibitors that assist us in the management and effective use by our bodies of serotonin.

This explains many of our physiological cravings for carbohydrates – we simply want to change our mood and feel better.  I believe many of us that have had weight loss surgery or are obese use (actually, more accurately, abuse) food.  We abuse food for many reasons and almost all of them are for emotional reasons, emotional enhancements and simply to change the way we feel.

Possibly by understanding the physiological reasons we crave carbs will provide more compassion towards ourselves as to our incessant need for carbs.  However, we still must learn how to manage our emotions and create successful strategies to put food into its proper place in our lives as nutrition and not to numb ourselves.  Food is fuel and not to be used in any other way without experiencing negative results on our bodies with excess weight but also the dissemination of our self-esteem and feelings about ourselves as a person.

Change your mood with emotional management and healthy coping rather than turn to the emotional checking out of emotional overeating your life away.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Certified Back On Track Facilitator