The Emotional Healing Power of Food

The natural foods you love don’t just nourish your body. They feed your very soul and fill you with fond memories and bonding.

Some meals even stimulate the feeling of being loved.

That connection begins in early childhood. Special occasions where family members celebrate create lasting emotional bonds.

Think back to the feasts of your childhood:

• Christmas dinners
• Birthday cakes and parties
• Wedding dishes
• Sunday dinners with grandparents.

The memories fade, but those feelings of contentment stay strong.

Science backs this up.

A November 2015 study showed that dementia patients respond with pure joy when served their favorite childhood dishes.

They may have long forgotten the names and faces of the people they loved, but the feelings live on.

These feelings can be so potent that nonverbal patients suddenly speak a word or two.

The Surprising Benefits of Healthy Emotional Eating

I can hear what you might be thinking.

Isn’t eating emotionally a bad thing?

It can be. Anorexia and other disorders run rampant in our skinny-fixated society.

But food is complicated, and emotions are even more so.

The truth is, you can use food (the right food, that is) to help maintain your emotional health.

Food can be a source of pure joy while nurturing your physical and emotional health.

Many studies have been done on the effect of nutrition on mental health. So many that a whole new branch of science has popped up, called “Nutritional Psychiatry.”

Certain foods can alter your brain chemistry and influence your behavior… positively or negatively.

Types of Foods that Can Help Improve Your Mood

In mammals, the neuronal pathways within the hypothalamus generate a sense of well-being.

The human brain has learned what helps the species survive.

When survival conditions are good, we get a pleasure response. When we’re in danger, we experience pain.

Our early ancestors developed a taste preference for salt and sugar. This helped them find the nutrients they needed and avoid poison.

Now, our Western diet contains far too much salt and sugar. We’ve learned to crave it, but too much is bad for our mental and physical health.

Research shows that certain diets can help protect against anxiety and depression:

● Complex carbohydrates provide long-lasting satisfaction and alleviate depression. This includes whole grains and sweet potatoes, and other starches.

● Green Tea can help soothe rattled nerves thanks to a calming amino acid called L-theanine.

● Blueberries have more antioxidants than any other commonly found fruit. Regulating your mood is just one of their many health benefits.

● Leafy greens like spinach and swiss chard contain magnesium that helps reduce anxiety.

● Walnuts, flaxseed, seafood, and other sources of Omega 3 fatty acids can help ease depression.

● Brazil nuts, beans, and legumes are high in selenium. Studies show these can improve mild or even moderate depression in elderly patients.

Six Tips to Establish Love and Positive Emotions about Healthy Food

1. Fill your space with joy and love both when you prepare food.. and when you eat it.
2. Turn on some music you love, or listen to a comedy show while you chop your veggies. Maybe engage some little helpers to join the fun.
3. Use mealtimes to forge strong connections with your family and friends.
4. Have everyone tell a joke or story about their day. Engage with everyone and make eye contact with them.
5. Keep in mind, it’s not just about the food. It’s about sharing and bonding with the people you love.
6. Eat slowly and savor every moment. You can also break up your main courses with sides of veggies and salads.

Teach your loved ones to associate positive feelings with healthy and nurturing foods.

Those associations will help you erase bad habits and enjoy nourishing food for a lifetime.