The Energy Drink Blog

Can your mood be influenced by what you eat? As the saying goes, “you are what you eat,” so it is quite possible that your daily outlook can be a product of your diet.

A cheery outlook can be attributed in part to serotonin. Serotonin is a mood enhancing chemical that is synthesized by the amino acid tryptophan, and is responsible for controlling anger, appetite, aggression, body temperature, sexuality, and metabolism. Additionally, foods which are high in tryptophan such as turkey, increase serotonin levels to induce sleep. For this reason it is one of the best natural sleep aids. Foods that are rich in serotonin include walnuts, poultry, eggs, milk and whole grain carbohydrates.

While the above mentioned foods are the most effective serotonin boosting foods, recent studies have shown that mood is also affected by fat.  British researchers have found that people who eat an extremely low fat diet are often grumpier and more hostile than those who eat a diet that is higher in fat.

Not all fat is treated equal though. Sources of fat that are not good for the body and mind include the drive-up window at any fast food restaurant. Instead, healthy sources of fat include the following: chocolate, fish, as well as foods rich in vitamins D and B. It is not uncommon for some energy drinks to also contain these essential vitamins.

Eating “good mood” foods is only part of the equation. Moderation and exercise are also important factors to the overall mood of and individual. It is important to not over-consume these foods as they may lead to weight gain. Some people who have trouble controlling their appetite have found hoodia pills a great source of appetite suppression.