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My friend Dhrumil posted a hilarious link the other day to a You Tube spiff about the FDA creating a drug for the “annoyingly happy”. What caught my attention was a small section which made the amusing remark that one didn’t need a pill to feel depressed, all you needed was to consume a diet of corn syrup and white bread for a period of time to achieve the wanted results of lethargic depressiveness.
It got me thinking again about how food affects our mood. With my kids, it’s fascinating to observe. It seems like after every meal they are super-charged no matter what they eat. This tells me that kids are more influenced by food and given their little bodies feel its effects, good and bad probably to a greater degree than we do.
Regarding me, certain things I consume have an obvious effect, like coffee. I know caffeine lifts me. I admit that I crave my coffee in the morning. It makes me happy and I like it, and I’m not yet entirely convinced it is bad for me in moderation. But it does change my mood. Should I be concerned about that?
I’m trying to currently assess how eating more raw fruits and vegetables and less breads, refined sugar and processed food affects me personally. This is more difficult for me to asses, probably because I tend to eat mostly healthy and raw anyway so the occasional cranberry nut muffin from Deboer bakery doesn’t seem to greatly impact me negatively (maybe that’s because I also get a fully charged latte to go with it). What I have noticed is that when I start my morning out with a sliced mango, leftover hummus or Pure Bar, I am less hungry throughout the day. If I start introducing processed or bread products, I get hungrier and hungrier. I’ve also noticed that as I eat more raw food and more whole foods my body becomes partial to them, wanting bad foods less and good foods more (thanks body!). It is less of a challenge now for me then it ever has to eat the way I should. I believe this is because I have gradually introduced more raw and whole organic foods into my diet.
But maybe its not so much about the immediate effects of food choices. Even though I am not a patient person, eating raw is probably more about the long term effects on inner health, mental health and even outer shine that should be motivating me to take the path of organic, raw and real most often. It certainly is what motivates me to instill those choices in the lives of my kids.
If you’re reading this let me know how food affects your mood. What have you noticed? What works for you, what doesn’t? I am interested in your individual experience because even though we operate differently, the old adage “You are what you eat” is true for all of us.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:38 am
ORGANIC Fruits and vegtables work for me…The Hummus does too. Something I eat everyday…by they way, i want to know if that Pure Bar works for me. What’s in it?? I would love to try one.
February 26th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Yesenia, thanks for the comment! Pure Bar is and organic raw food energy bar with fruits and nuts. They are great and so good for you. Click on the PureBar link in the blog or go to http://www.thepurebar.com to check them out!!
February 27th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Fresh, whole foods (including a daily Pure bar, of course!!) = my life-sustainers.
February 28th, 2009 at 11:27 am
My family has a hard-to-break tradition of a “pancake and bacon” Saturday morning breakfast, and I tend to drag the rest of the day….
Weekdays, I always feel more energized and healthful after a lunch consisting of a wrap filled with hummus and laods of veggies and preceding that with a pure bar for breakfast.
March 9th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
i totally agree that food affects mood.
at least it does mine! when i eat whole
fresh foods i feel so much better and
im just overall more pleasant to be
around. and if i dont eat often enough
i certainly do get cranky! i would like
to focus more on eating a more raw
based diet. i need to find myself some
pure bars for sure! i have been seeing
them pop up all over the internet and
im jonesin to try them. they look divine!
March 10th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I was recently sick and didn’t feel like eating at all. I lived on Naked green smoothies, PURE bars and little else. Even though I was sick, I was so happy and in a great mood every day. It seemed the less I ate, the better I felt. Maybe I was just lightheaded from hunger. haha. Regardless, I have been eating less than I usually do even after recovering and I still feel happier and lighter!
March 10th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Hi Veronica! I just wanted to stop by and let you know how much I love your product. They are truly amazing. The taste and texture are unbelievable, but you probably know that. Thanks so much for creating a healthy and nourishing bar.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Eating healthy is extremely important to me. I definitely believe in the saying “you are what you eat”. I agree with VeggieGirl about the fresh, whole foods. I feel my best when eating wholesome foods, which are good for my health and are nutritious! I just purchased your Pure Bars last night in the Cherry Cashew and Chocolate Brownie flavors. I did a review of them on my blog. I love them already, and I’ve only tried the Cherry Cashew flavor so far! The bar is SO TASTY and nutritious. It cannot get any better. I am so happy you came up with these bars. They fit into my healthy lifestyle perfectly.
March 13th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Thanks so much for all of your comments, and contributions everyone!!
May 11th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Great post. I have been thinking so much lately about the social ramifications of diet and have wondered what would happen if our prisoners, schools, military and hospitals all switched to a predominately raw and living diet?
How would our society change?
Thanks for doing what you do!
Rebecca
Purely Delicious