Do you feed your emotions or does food create your emotions? If we analyze the large number of scientific publications on this subject, we find that the relationship between what i eat and what i feel it is bidirectional.
This two-way relationship is a “crystal ball” which, on the one hand, shows us what we really feel by observing what food our bodies ask us for, and on the other, it will help us feel better if we eat certain types of food.
What emotions lead you to eat what you eat?
- Dairy: The desire for milk, creamy yogurt, ice cream, milkshakes, and cheese suggests, for example, that you long for calm and comfort. They are foods that are associated with what the baby feels when being in the mother’s arms. This addictive and relaxing effect is due to the fact that milk contains peptides with opioid effects such as casomorphin. These peptides have a structure very similar to that of endorphins, which are found in breast milk and are produced by the body itself, and which generate a feeling of well-being.
- Sugar or sweet foods. They are associated with the desire to have friends, love and feel more kindness. The emotional effects of sugar are reflected in multiple scientific publications. The addictive effect is well known, due to its action on the endogenous opioid system that produces a temporary sensation of well-being. The increase in blood glucose levels is also related to the feeling of having more energy.
- Foods with flours. The desire for sandwiches, pizza and pasta indicates that the predominant feelings are loneliness, sadness or even depression. This relationship is based on an effect similar to that of sugar: they are simple chain carbohydrates that end up increasing blood glucose levels. But, as in the previous case, that causes a feeling of well-being and energy that is only temporary. In addition, the gluten in these foods has a depressing effect, according to a study published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
- Crunchy foods. Whether they are healthy (apples) or not so much (french fries), the appetite for them reflects frustration, anger and anger, emotions closely linked to stress. Chewing crunchy foods unlocks and relaxes the jaw, an area that accumulates a lot of tension when we are stressed, angry or furious. This relaxation is accompanied by an emotional feeling of relaxation.
Your appetite reveals your feelings
Sometimes we can think that we have overcome an emotion because we do not express it. But this lack of expression, either because we prefer to hide it or because we think it is negative, causes it to be blocked and, unconsciously, conditions our way of living. The irrepressible cravings that we experience are our ally to discover what is hidden in our unconscious.
When we don’t know what we feel or we feel in emotional chaos, a good way to obtain information is to stop for a moment, breathe and see what do we want to eat Because that craving for a certain type of food is surely giving us an idea of what emotion is covering up and dominating the situation we are experiencing.
The information on the relationship between emotions and food has been tremendously useful to me in recent years to uncover what was happening inside me when facing everyday situations and conflicts. Now I can Observe me without judging me. If I feel like eating some chips (organic!) when I’m stressed and I’m running from one place to another, I do it.
Do you eat for stress?
The great thing is that now I realize that the cause is stress. Those French fries are indicating to me that I am going too fast and that perhaps, if I stop for a moment and do a few abdominal breaths, if I tell my mind to stop thinking that I have not arrived because I have a thousand things to do, and tell myself to myself “Calm down, everything turns out alright in the end”, I lose the desire to eat and manage to feel relaxed.
As my friend Mireia Anglada says: “Have you seen someone who has an upset, like a breakup, and binges on broccoli? In the movies they always binge on ice cream.” Well, that happens to all of us. What is clear is that we cannot go through life from binge to binge, because we will live on a roller coaster that will hardly allow us to reach the welfare state what we want
Don’t hide your emotions. Observe and try to see what is happening to you without blaming you When you pay attention to what’s going through your mind and what your heart is feeling, you don’t need food as an outlet to cover up your unpleasant thoughts or emotions.
Does that mean you can’t eat foods that make you feel better? It’s not that. Surely you have heard of the comfort foods, that help you feel better.
Why does food affect us?
Primary emotions are associated with a series of neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and GABA. Some foods help create these neurotransmitters and therefore directly affect our emotions.
He tryptophan It is an amino acid that allows the synthesis of serotonin, a neurotransmitter directly related to the feeling of happiness. Therefore, when we eat foods rich in tryptophan we enhance our happiness. And the same happens with foods that help the synthesis of other neurotransmitters.
Therefore, if we feel a little sad, it is great to eat a good plate of foods rich in tryptophan (cocoa, avocado, banana…) to raise our serotonin.
You can change your relationship with food
After all kinds of diets, exercise, trying the latest in therapies, supplementation and a long etcetera, I have begun to feeling better with myself and not feel that urgent need to eat when I was feeling bad or even when I was happy.
One of the side effects of this new way of relating to food has been that I have lost weight without making any effort. It may be hard for you to believe it, so I invite you to try it.
I think eating has to be a exciting experience. You can feed your mind and body without giving up the pleasure of delicious food, without feeling guilty and without using it as an emotional anesthetic.