So can foods influence the way we think? Can the consumption of certain foods have a beneficial effect on brain power? If so, what of the reverse? Can junk food have a negative effect? The brain is an amazing organ, situated in its little dark box within the skull. Most of your programming is based on perception, not what you see. Perception is the brain's way of interpreting ambiguous visual signals in the most likely explanation possible. These explanations are a direct result of past experience.
If you grew up with a dislike for eating broccoli (as I did), chances are that your perception of broccoli in adult life will be tainted by one's childhood experience. It was only in my early thirties that I started reintroducing it into my diet again. I grew up in a Middle Eastern household. My mother loved the use of garlic in her cooking and so broccoli was garnished with this medicinal wonder-bulb during dinner. Later when I enjoyed broccoli again, it was in a natural state with little or no garnishing. I pleasantly discovered that it was the garlic seasoning that was the cause of my unpleasant memories, not the vegetable itself.
We've all heard about magic mushrooms having hallucinatory effects on the brain. So if a plant based food can have a profound effect on the mind, consider your everyday foods which you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My friend raised an interesting point recently when we were discussing meditation and the basis for this article. I was recounting that my thought patterns were scattered during the last two weeks - even during meditation. I found this odd since I am very in tune with my thoughts. My friend suggested perhaps my food habits had changed over the past few weeks.
Given it was the end of the year and I had attended a number of Christmas gatherings, I found myself eating foods rich in calories and sugar - as one does during this period. My immediate attention turned toward ADHD children who had been administered a pure organic diet over a period of time; to discover their mental state and overall mood had improved. As stated earlier, can a diet high in calories and laden with sugar affect ones thought process? - Perhaps so, even in milder forms as I experienced.
How food influences thoughts
We know food can influence moods, since it alters hormonal levels, interacting with blood chemistry and one's organs i.e. liver, pancreas, adrenals, digestive system, kidneys and the heart. Certain foods have calming effects on the body such as those rich in Trytophan. They include: chicken, beef, brown rice, nuts, fish, milk, eggs, cheese, fruit, and vegetables.
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid which the body is unable to manufacture. It forms a crucial role in the production of serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is essential for sleep and mood regulation. If you have inadequate serotonin in your body, depression and insomnia may be likely effects, since this hormone is responsible for mood regulation. It is important that you consume foods rich in tryptophan or supplement accordingly (via consultation with a health care professional - do not self diagnose).
The tenet, you are what you eat and when you eat it rings true in many cases. It comes as no surprise that those who choose foods high in minerals and vitamins live a longer, rich and healthy life. Your body is an intricate organism. The nerve networks, chemicals, hormones and messenger molecules all play an important role in the regulation of your everyday functions. Anytime you eat a certain food, you start an internal process which is much like a taking a road trip without a map - there are many paths to take.
Another example of food influencing thought and moods is found in the comfort food chocolate. Pure dark chocolate which consists of 70% or more cocoa is the ideal companion to adjust your moods. Dairy milk chocolate is high in saturated fats, sugar, preservatives, artificial colours and additives - and certainly worth avoiding.
So food can alter ones thoughts and interacts with processes within the body. Food may be considered a drug since and it may be a healing agent. Recall foods which you naturally avoid when sick versus those which provide comfort and relief during these times. The stomach releases certain chemicals when food is eaten which are relayed via the vagus nerve to the base of the brain. The feeling of satiety (fullness) is activated by the hormones leptin and insulin, which communicate a message to the brain via the gut-brain barrier that you're full.
You may have noticed how your moods changed when you missed breakfast or lunch? Signs include irritability, foggy head, forgetfulness, trembling hands and vague thinking. I am very much aware of my fall in blood sugar level should I skip a meal. I immediately notice headaches and mood swings, tending toward irritability if I don't eat the right combinations of foods.
Pay attention to your selection of foods next time you're thoughts are scattered. Look back over the week and take an inventory of what changes to your diet may have influenced your moods and thoughts. Choose foods which are better suited toward improving your health, your hormonal levels and your moods. Often the long term risk to your health and wellbeing is not worth the pleasure derived from eating unhealthy foods in the interim.
If you enjoyed this article by Tony Fahkry, why not gain access to Tony's full body of knowledge by getting a copy of his new book 'The Power to Navigate Life'
The Power to Navigate Life is arguably the most complete and powerful teachings on the mastering of life. The Power to Navigate Life is your opportunity to experience a rewarding life from the very first page. Visit http://www.tonyfahkry.com to get your copy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tony_Fahkry/837610
If you grew up with a dislike for eating broccoli (as I did), chances are that your perception of broccoli in adult life will be tainted by one's childhood experience. It was only in my early thirties that I started reintroducing it into my diet again. I grew up in a Middle Eastern household. My mother loved the use of garlic in her cooking and so broccoli was garnished with this medicinal wonder-bulb during dinner. Later when I enjoyed broccoli again, it was in a natural state with little or no garnishing. I pleasantly discovered that it was the garlic seasoning that was the cause of my unpleasant memories, not the vegetable itself.
We've all heard about magic mushrooms having hallucinatory effects on the brain. So if a plant based food can have a profound effect on the mind, consider your everyday foods which you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My friend raised an interesting point recently when we were discussing meditation and the basis for this article. I was recounting that my thought patterns were scattered during the last two weeks - even during meditation. I found this odd since I am very in tune with my thoughts. My friend suggested perhaps my food habits had changed over the past few weeks.
Given it was the end of the year and I had attended a number of Christmas gatherings, I found myself eating foods rich in calories and sugar - as one does during this period. My immediate attention turned toward ADHD children who had been administered a pure organic diet over a period of time; to discover their mental state and overall mood had improved. As stated earlier, can a diet high in calories and laden with sugar affect ones thought process? - Perhaps so, even in milder forms as I experienced.
How food influences thoughts
We know food can influence moods, since it alters hormonal levels, interacting with blood chemistry and one's organs i.e. liver, pancreas, adrenals, digestive system, kidneys and the heart. Certain foods have calming effects on the body such as those rich in Trytophan. They include: chicken, beef, brown rice, nuts, fish, milk, eggs, cheese, fruit, and vegetables.
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid which the body is unable to manufacture. It forms a crucial role in the production of serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is essential for sleep and mood regulation. If you have inadequate serotonin in your body, depression and insomnia may be likely effects, since this hormone is responsible for mood regulation. It is important that you consume foods rich in tryptophan or supplement accordingly (via consultation with a health care professional - do not self diagnose).
The tenet, you are what you eat and when you eat it rings true in many cases. It comes as no surprise that those who choose foods high in minerals and vitamins live a longer, rich and healthy life. Your body is an intricate organism. The nerve networks, chemicals, hormones and messenger molecules all play an important role in the regulation of your everyday functions. Anytime you eat a certain food, you start an internal process which is much like a taking a road trip without a map - there are many paths to take.
Another example of food influencing thought and moods is found in the comfort food chocolate. Pure dark chocolate which consists of 70% or more cocoa is the ideal companion to adjust your moods. Dairy milk chocolate is high in saturated fats, sugar, preservatives, artificial colours and additives - and certainly worth avoiding.
So food can alter ones thoughts and interacts with processes within the body. Food may be considered a drug since and it may be a healing agent. Recall foods which you naturally avoid when sick versus those which provide comfort and relief during these times. The stomach releases certain chemicals when food is eaten which are relayed via the vagus nerve to the base of the brain. The feeling of satiety (fullness) is activated by the hormones leptin and insulin, which communicate a message to the brain via the gut-brain barrier that you're full.
You may have noticed how your moods changed when you missed breakfast or lunch? Signs include irritability, foggy head, forgetfulness, trembling hands and vague thinking. I am very much aware of my fall in blood sugar level should I skip a meal. I immediately notice headaches and mood swings, tending toward irritability if I don't eat the right combinations of foods.
Pay attention to your selection of foods next time you're thoughts are scattered. Look back over the week and take an inventory of what changes to your diet may have influenced your moods and thoughts. Choose foods which are better suited toward improving your health, your hormonal levels and your moods. Often the long term risk to your health and wellbeing is not worth the pleasure derived from eating unhealthy foods in the interim.
If you enjoyed this article by Tony Fahkry, why not gain access to Tony's full body of knowledge by getting a copy of his new book 'The Power to Navigate Life'
The Power to Navigate Life is arguably the most complete and powerful teachings on the mastering of life. The Power to Navigate Life is your opportunity to experience a rewarding life from the very first page. Visit http://www.tonyfahkry.com to get your copy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tony_Fahkry/837610
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