Posted by Yusuke

To me, eating and stress were always interralated. I was trapped at home with young children who constantly put demands on me. My fridge and pantry were filled with goodies and food was always accessible. It was my safety valve when I was just about to explode, and it was my only source of pleasure… It is difficult to believe, but there is hope for those of us who are overweight and suffer from stress. Food can actually help us relax without making us fat!

Food is energy, If we don’t need it, it gets stored in the body as fat, and we gain weight. Sounds simple. So why do we eat so much? And why do we feel unhappy, frustrated, irritable, depressed and angry when we reduce our food intake? It all has to do with certain chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters act like messengers in the body. One of them is serotonin. Not only do overweight people often have too much insulin, they also suffer from a lack of serotonin.

Serotonin acts like an antidepressant, a natural mood enhancer, and it is released when we are eating. A carbohydrate-rich diet will boost your serotonin levels, and you won’t be tempted to overeat, because you will feel satisfied. Avoid feeling hungry, as it will weaken your determination, and it can literally drive you insane! Hunger can easily trigger a binge, and research has shown that people who are prone to binge eating often have extremely low serotonin levels.

A carbohydrate-rich diet can be useful to combat stress and to prevent cravings. Do you have a sweet tooth? Do you eat when you’re stressed? Sugar helps us produce serotonin, a “happy” substance, which relaxes us. When the brain lacks this essential neurotransmitter, we feel nervous, anxious, and irritable. Our instinct is to reach for something sweet, as we instinctively know it will make us feel better, and there is a biological reason for it.

Food alleviates stress and helps us overcome loneliness, frustration, boredom and fatigue. By eating we can enjoy ourselves without harming others. But then we feel unhappy and worthless because we’re too fat, and to forget about it, we reach for another piece of chocolate.

If this sounds familiar don’t despair. If you understand how serorotonin makes you feel good, and how carbohydrate foods help your brain produce it, you can use this knowledge to your advantage. Serotonin is produced by your own body, and always available with the right fuel: carbohydrates. Insulin and carbohydrates together will trigger the production of this neurotransmitter in the brain.

The bulk of our meals should consist of complex carbohydrates. Legumes like peas, beans, lentils and chick peas are very rich both in complex carbohydrates and vegetable protein. To amplify their effect, we can combine them with other carbohydrate foods like brown rice, wholegrain bread or pasta.

A generous carbohydrate meal with vegetables is great for weight loss and as a mood enhancer. The effect can last for many hours. From my experience, I know it helps me be more patient with my family.

The reason why we love to eat is not only psychological, it is also biological and invloves serotonin. Only carbohydrate foods can increase the production of this important “feel-good” substance.

It is interesting to note that some antidepressant drugs work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. One of their side-effects is weight loss. This is because when we feel better, we don’t need to eat as much. But to achieve this, we don’t need medication. Unless we suffer from a condition that cannot be treated any other way, we should avoid putting chemicals into our bodies.

It is much easier and safer to use complex carbohydrates to improve mood and wellbeing on a daily basis.

by Isabell Kratz.
isabellkratz.com