We all have ups and downs in our lives that affect our mood. There is no person on this planet that has his or her life sorted. There are days when we are at our best and then there are days where we question everything. We often find food as our companion in our happy and hard times. We always turn to food whenever something happens. There are some food items that should be consumed and some that should be avoided in certain moods. We shouldn’t binge eat any item which might lead to problems in our body.
Here is a list of 20 food items which should be consumed, and which should be avoided according to your mood:
Foods to Avoid-
1. Potato Chips
Having a bowl full of Potato Chips while you binge watch your favorite tv series or movie might sound like a good idea. These munchies are addicting as it seems impossible to stop once you have started eating it. But it does more harm than good. These chips contain a high amount of saturated fats and Omega-6 fatty acids. They affect the mood by causing inflammation in the body. If it is consumed in high quantity, then it may lead to emotional and mental instabilities.
2. Coffee
You might argue how coffee is harmful to the body. When you have coffee in moderation, it is fantastic and if you consume it carelessly, then it is dangerous. Drinking a cup of coffee gives energy and turns on the mental and physical functioning of the body. When you consume it in high amounts, you feel exhausted and worn out. This leads to chronic disorders like adrenal fatigue.
3. French Fries
Whenever we talk about fast food, the first name to pop up in our mind is French Fries. These are everyone’s favourite because they are tasty. These contain a high amount of carbs, oils, and saturated fats which boost the energy but drops down fast in no time. This creates instability in the mood leaving you irritable, tired, foggy, and sluggish.
4. Soda Drinks
Be it every food item or a party, nothing is complete without a glass of soft drink. People who are its fan consider it water, but you should know that it contains simple sugars which are absorbed in our blood and in turn increases our blood sugar levels. Sugar might provide instant energy, but once it crashes, the blood sugar level loses control in turn affecting our energy level and our mood.
5. Processed Seeds
Seeds are a healthy option when you consume them raw or in a roasted form. When you go for the processed ones, the seeds are coated with potassium bromate. This blocks the iodine from being absorbed by the thyroid gland. So, this might not be a good option.
6. Baked Goods
Consumption of Baked Goods like muffins, cookies, and pies doesn’t necessarily require a particular reason. These contain a high amount of saturated oils and sugar which lead to constant fluctuations of mood, feeling of heaviness, lethargy, and depression.
7. Canned Foods
Canned Foods save a lot of time in preparation of any dish. We forget about the health aspect while giving importance to time. Canned food items contain BPA which caused chronic mood disorders like anxiety and depression.
8. Ulta Processed Foods
Ultra Processed Foods contain saturated fats, preservatives, refined sugars, and many additives that affect our mood leaving depressed, unmotivated, anxious, and exhausted. They also affect the waistline.
9. Margarine
Margarine is made from vegetable oils or animal fats. It acts as a substitute for butter and contains high amounts of saturated fats. These fats are different from good fats like avocado and olive oil. Frequent consumption of margarine causes sugar imbalance leading to mood swings and weight gain.
10. Dried Fruits
Dried Fruits only contain sugar in high amounts. Eating more of these would only result in a high intake of sugar. They cause a disturbance in the body if eaten in large quantity.
11. Salted Peanuts
Many of us love to have these crunchy and salty peanuts. These munchies contain a high amount of MSG. This affects our mood and leaves us feeling weak, fatigued, and depressed.
12. Vegetable Shortenings
If you use Vegetable Shortenings for baking items, then it’s time to stop as they are made with inflammation-promoting industrial fats. They have higher levels of Omega-6 fatty acids hampers the mood. It also blocks out the brain building and mood enhancing fatty acids.
13. Cold Cuts
Cold Cuts refer to packaged meats like hot dogs and ham which contain high levels of mood-altering nitrates, food coloring, preservatives, and additives. They cause mood swings and lead to bloating, headaches, and water retention.
14. Bagels
We all love having Bagels with cream and cheese. It’s time to change your preference as it spikes the blood sugar levels. This affects your energy levels, focus, and alertness with rapid mood swings. Foods to Consume-
15. When the Work Is Never-Ending
There might be some days where the work might be stress. Have a bite every time you feel sad as it has the power to lower the stress hormones which further reduces anxiety.
16. When All You Look for Is A Bed
Maybe you didn’t have a good night’s sleep, and now you are just sleepy and can doze off any second? In such a situation, don’t go for a cup of coffee, rather go for a Spinach Salad. The spinach leaves have Folic Acid which helps the body to proves and lower levels of homocysteine. The levels of homocysteine are related to impaired blood flow, which makes us feel tired and sluggish. You can also opt for cereals, potatoes, mushrooms, peas, and beans.
17. When You Are Surrounded by Tension
Maybe you are worried about your finances or your family problem, and maybe tension might be going around in your mind. In such a scenario, the best thing is to do is to go for a Salmon Burger. Salmon is rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acid. Regular consumption of Omega-3 prevents and ensures the treatment of clinical depression. If you are a vegetarian, you can go for Soya Bean.
18 When the World Seems to Be Annoying
We all end up in a situation where we can’t really figure out what’s up with our mood. The correct justification would be- we are in a cranky mood. It is totally normal for humans. The best way to get out of such a mood is to have a combination of proteins and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide quick energy and burnout fast. Adding protein to it will slow down the process of digestion maintaining our energy level for a longer period of time. For example, go for a combination of Peanut Butter and Apple.
19. The PMS Phase
Every girl can relate to this because they experience it once a month. During these days, the craving for comfort food like pizza or chocolates is high. Instead of choosing such high-calorie food, go for Egg Salad Sandwich. It is a combination of Tryptophan and carbohydrate because they release a hormone called Serotonin which uplifts the mood.
20. The Sad Mood
When you turn sad no matter the reason, you might turn to any food to enhance your mood, but that’s wrong! Instead of all the junk, opt for Whole Grain Cereal with Low Fat Milk. This will boost your mood as it contains Vitamin D. This vitamin enables the body to maintain a stable mood.
