www.nutrizonia.com
Nowadays we are overwhelmed by the abundance of food
choices, from light refreshing appetizers to mouth melting desserts. Why does
dining out bring us joy and happiness? Is food just a fuel? Is eating food the easiest way to get a sense
of pleasure? Or is it a guilty pleasure?
First we should ask,
Why do we
have to eat?
Food is the main source of energy that the body needs for its
vital functions, such as respiration or the circulation of blood
on which life directly dependents, to work. We need an approximate
amount of energy daily; the nutrition experts calculated this amount taking in
consideration many factors like, life style (sedentary or active), age,
gender…etc. Without food you can’t live, and if you starve yourself; your
cognition abilities will diminish.
How does the body react to the sense of
pleasure?
A neurotransmitter is a chemical compound signaling form
the brain, Dopamine and Serotonin are some examples, their functions
direct the mood; Dopamine is for
alertness, and Serotonin is for
being happy and positive. These neurotransmitters are stimulated by some
actions, such as eating delicious food, listening to music or other actions or activates
of pleasure.
Dopamine and Serotonin are found naturally in many food items,
to mention some
Rich B –Vitamin food like Wholegrain products, Brown rice
Fruits
like Avocado, Banana, Blueberries
Rich Protein Food like Meat , Dairy products and Soy
Leafy green vegetables
A single meal contains various components that created its
final shape. Carbohydrate, Fat, Protein and water are the main
components. Each one of these components has tiny molecules that give it
specific shape like amino acids, glucose...etc.
These molecules contain the precursors needed for the synthesis of the
neurotransmitters.
When we eat food items that contain these precursors or/and
neurotransmitter themselves, the brain responds by stimulating the release of
these neurotransmitters; so we feel happy.
We crave the food that make us happy, and feeling comfortable,
but in most cases this will lead to overeating, especially if the person has an
emotional disorder like depression. So…
Food is a fuel and in some cases it brings
pleasure … what do we do?
We need to stimulate these neurotransmitters (that alter
our mood and make us fell calmer) by other ways rather than eating food.
Listening to Music and good deep laughter are good ways.
Exercising for 30 minutes five days a week will raise
dopamine secretion, a 1983 study performed at The
Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that laboratory animals exposed to
bright light had higher levels of dopamine in the retina of the eyes.
In addition, a 2007
article written by Simon N. Young of McGill University and published in
"The Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience" explains that several
studies have shown that exposure to bright light such as sunlight increases
serotonin levels in the brain.
Finally, because of our nature as humans, we love to feel,
have or sense pleasure. So be active, join community groups, break the routine,
surround yourself with good company, and laugh form your heart and occasionally
you can enjoy food treats!
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