I have to consider myself a ‘foodie.’ I absolutely love cooking food, eating food, and trying new dishes at various restaurants. Sometimes when I do not eat good food I begin to feel like I am in a slump. I want to know if eating unhealthy food can actually make me feel worse mentally, despite how delicious it might taste at the time
It has been proven that the link between sugar and hyperactivity is false. However, sugar and feelings might have something to do with it. Sherry L. Pagoto, PhD, says that “the link between emotions and eating is no myth.” We obviously know that people who eat better, feel better. But does eating bad food make you feel worse? Despite a lack of experimental evidence, “research suggests that diet quality influences depression risk.” A study in Australia evaluated relationships between dietary patterns, symptoms of depression, and socioeconomic status. The results showed that there is a correlation between diet and depressive symptoms. It is also important to note that when someone is depressed, they are more likely to have a change in appetite. This is more evidence of a possible link between depression and diet.
Another study taken in New Zealand in 2014 analyzes this connection as well. In a cross-sectional, population-based design scientists used questioners to determine the populations diets. The healthy and unhealthy people were then examined on two separate scales. The PedsQL instrument was used to determine the mental health of the population in the study. The results showed that the ones who ate better scored higher on the PedsQL scale. While the mechanism is yet to b
e discovered the correlation between diet and mental health is beginning to seem stronger and stronger.
Guaranteeing an ample amount of protein, vitamins, and fiber in ones diet can help make him/her “healthy and happy.” It is also very important to continue to feed oneself throughout the day. NBC News recently reported research that one should eat every 4-5 hours to keep blood sugar at a good level. It is also not good to skip meals. A lack of a diet is an unhealthy 
diet!
In no way does this mean that you should avoid Berkley Creamery or Insomnia Cookies. This post just means that you should try to stick with some fruit over a piece of cake majority of the time to avoid the crummy feeling (no pun intended) that you might get a few hours after the sweetness goes away
Magaret- from personal experience I completely agree with the direct relationship between diet and mood. However, I think the findings that these scientists are researching are already quite clear. Obviously, If somebody eats mostly healthy, and gets their recommended amount of protein, carbs, and fiber they will feel better than if they were to eat sugary, fat, and processed foods. Most importantly, I don’t think that solely eating bad can cause depression. Eating bad could definitely be a contributing factor to somebody developing depression/ major emotional issues. I truly believe that eating healthy spikes a positive chain reaction. We should all live by the famous quote, “Eat good, look good, feel good.”
As much as I love my sweets, I have to agree with you that while sugar may temporarily have a positive effect on mood, once the sugar crash hits, it leaves me feeling worse off than before. A healthy and stable diet is definitely vital to maintaining not only physical health, but also mental health. I thought it was interesting to hear that the average person should be eating 4-5 meals a day. I am constantly hungry so I have found myself having smaller, but more frequent meals vs. three large ones. I’m happy to hear that I have been making the most healthy choice all along. Regarding sugar and mood, check out this article. It discusses the effects of sugar on anxiety, and the results are very interesting. Give it a peek!
I’ve definitely noticed the impact eating bad food has had on not only me but my body! Obviously, eating greasy/high fat food is great and delicious in the moment. But, often after eating too much of it I’m left feeling bloated and sluggish. These types of food seem to take a toll on your body and not in a good way. Eating badly often has an affect on your skin as well. When I eat healthy foods I feel so good about myself. I have more energy and don’t feel rundown. It’s amazing to think something so simple as food could make such difference on our moods but it really does. I’ll still probably eat some insomnia cookies though from time to time 😉
With my past experience, i have definitely noticed that eating high sugar/fatty foods have made me feel worse after eating them. At the time they seem like a great idea but how negatively I have felt afterwards made me not want to eat unhealthy foods for awhile. I have heard before that sugar can be compared to a drug as it is highly addictive and unhealthy. I also believe this to be true because sugar is such a big part of the American diet. So much so that it is almost impossible to find foods that don’t contain sugar at all!