NUTRITION EDUCATION: NUTRITION & MENTAL HEALTH

How can food affect how I feel? We all react differently to the things in our diet. But there are some foods and drinks that may affect how we feel, in different ways. This section talks about food and drink that might affect how you feel, and has some ideas for how to manage this.

Everything we consider as nutrition is really just a secondary source of energy. Even in good times, when we come home at night, we often look in the refrigerator for something to eat – when all we really want is a hug or someone to talk to. When your primary food is full, you thrive – actual food stays secondary, providing support to be healthy and do the things you love.

Most people are aware that sugar creates spikes and crashes in energy, but many do not realize that the more you eat sugar, the more it causes sugar cravings. Also, it’s not commonly known that refined flours do exactly the same thing. Yes, that means the bread, bagels, crackers, and pasta are doing the same thing as your cookies, cakes, and candies!

The idea that you can be addicted to food has recently gained increasing support. That comes from brain imaging and other studies of the effects of compulsive overeating on pleasure centers in the brain. Experiments in animals and humans show that, for some people, the same reward and pleasure centers of the brain that are triggered by addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin are also activated by food, especially highly palatable foods rich in:

Sugar | Fat | Salt

LET'S NOW LOOK AT THIS FROM A MENTAL HEALTH POINT OF VIEW.

Cravings!

A silhouette of a person backlit by the light of a refrigerator, looking for something to eat. Most of us have experienced an intense urge to eat a certain food—ideally right away. More often than not, that food is likely to be sugary, salty, or fatty, or all three. You may feel increasingly excited as you imagine how it will taste and how you’ll feel eating it. Maybe you last ate several hours ago, or maybe you’re still digesting your last meal. These urges are called cravings, which can pop up at any moment, and aren’t always fueled by hunger pangs.

What is hunger?

Hunger is a physical sensation experienced only when the body needs food. It may cause you to feel empty, or your stomach may rumble. “We typically throw this term around loosely when we want something to eat, not when we actually need something,”

There are several reasons people eat — social occasions, celebrations, boredom, stress — but there are a few good reasons people should eat: nourishment, sensation of hunger, to meet health requirements and health goals.

Disordered Eating vs. Eating Disorder

The term "disordered eating" is a descriptive phrase, not a diagnosis. Thus, while many people who have disordered eating patterns may fit the criteria for EDNOS, it also is possible to have disordered eating patterns that do not fit within the current confines of an eating disorder diagnosis.

Still, eating concerns falling short of a diagnosis deserve attention and treatment as they may turn into more problematic eating disorders and put individuals at risk of serious health problems.

On the surface, compulsive overeating might seem like it’s about hunger. But if we take a deeper look, this eating behavior is about more than that. It’s usually a way to deal with difficult emotions. Compulsive overeating isn’t an official diagnosis.

Rather, compulsive overeating is a disordered behavior that can show up in different eating disorders. Just like any disorder, compulsive overeating is a complicated behavior that can have disastrous effects on every aspect of someone’s life.

This is Your Brain on Food!

The brain is an organ with very high metabolic and nutrient demands. On average, the brain consumes 20% of a person’s daily caloric intake, approximately 400 calories per day. It is composed of 60% fat, and contains high concentrations of cholesterol and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as Omega-3s. It can be difficult to eat well when we have poor mental health. These are some tips which might help if you are struggling.