Food and Moods Does what you eat affect your moods? It sure does! There are four contributing factors to food affecting moods:
1. Our body manufacturers neurotransmitters within the lining of the digestive tract. These neurotransmitters, specifically serotonin, travel into the bloodstream, pass the blood brain barrier into the brain and directly affects our brain function, moods, and sleep-wake cycles. We need to be eating foods that support proper digestive health, so that we can support the manufacturing of neurotransmitters, hence support brain function and improve our overall moods.
2. There is a direct connection between the gut and brain through the lymphatic system. About 80% of the lymphatic system is housed in the digestive tract. A new discovery has recently been made that has found lymphatic vessels directly connecting the lymphatic system to the brain. This means that if there are toxins or chemicals getting into the lymphatic system from the digestive tract, then the central nervous system can be vulnerable to circulating toxins, and can affect brain function. This shows the link between digestive health, our immune system and brain health through the lymphatic system.
Dr. Melina Roberts (@drmelinaroberts) is a Naturopathic Doctor, Author of Building a Healthy Child and Clinic Director of Advanced Naturopathic Medical Centre in Calgary. She is a leading authority in the field of naturopathic medicine specializing in European Biological Medicine effectively treating digestive issues, chronic disease and cancer.