Helping people develop a healthy relationship with food is my primary goal.

Which Came First…the Food or the Mood?
By Jennifer Pereira,
RD, LD, CSCS

While some people chalk their food choices up to poor will power, it appears there may be something even scarier lurking under our decisions—Biology.

It seems the body is ultimately trying to stay alive. And often times this biological drive interferes with society's random rules: "thin is in", low carb diets, etc. One of the leading mood regulators affected by food is Serotonin. It is made from an amino acid Tryptophan (think Thanksgiving turkey). But it is dependent on carbohydrates to allow entry into the brain. Serotonin is what makes us feel so comforted when we eat 'comfort foods'. It brings feelings of peace, calm, and even sleepiness.

A carbohydrate-rich lunch will result in a serious afternoon slump. Also, a carbohydrate-poor diet has been shown to lead some to feelings of depression. Upon arising every morning, our body begins releasing Neuropeptide Y (NPY). This chemical increases one's desire for carbohydrates—it's production is further increased in the presence of stress hormones. There is a strong link, therefore, between stress and sweet cravings.

NPY builds all day long, until the body's need for carbohydrate is met. Another player, Galanin, begins to rise after lunch and whenever there have been several hours between meals. It causes a craving for fats. When a person goes all day without eating, it is no wonder their meals are abundant in carbohydrates and fats. It is not a will power issue…it's simple biology.

Lastly, we must address Leptin. This is the body's regulator of fat storage. While it doesn't directly affect mood, additional fat stored on the body may make us feel a little grumpy. When Leptin is low, our cravings for fat are high. Low Leptin results from lowered fat stores in the body or decreased fat intake. Leptin may also play a role in stimulating the aforementioned NPY and Galanin—which would stimulate further fat/carbohydrate cravings. Both Galanin and Leptin are stimulated by rapid fat loss.

They are the body's way of remaining in balance. The moral of the story is: Often times what we believe to be the result of random cravings or weak will power is actually just our bodies doing what they were created to do. And, while we may be able to ignore our physical cues for a while, it is impossible to fight these needs over the long term.

Ultimately we find that it is better to find ways to work with our bodies rather than against them.

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Listen to your Body, it is Wiser than you Think.
Respect your own unique traits, and develope a healthy relationship with food.