If you are feeling a bit low energy, grumpy or sad, chocolate, coffee or a piece of cake can very quickly, if temporarily, make you feel better. It’s basic psychology and knowing this is intuitively easy. I think much of our behaviour around food could be traced back to certain emotional sources and much better understood, with just a bit of focus, more conscious awareness.
Would achieving calm and positive emotions be a huge leap towards more energy, mental clarity and a better life?
I feel my level of awareness, my capacity to clearly sense what’s going on inside and outside me has improved a lot in the past 10 years. I almost got rid of the constant internal chattering of the mind, which for me could become a big deal. Do you know the nagging voice that keeps on moving from one thought to the next, from fear to desire, pleasure to pain? The internal judge that, particularly when under stress, keeps labelling, comparing and ruining your present moment? I found a way to tune it down to a minimum.
Hormones and neurotransmitters are, broadly speaking, responsible for the way we feel, our state of consciousness. Brain chemistry is constantly influenced by the external environment, which in turns affects an internal psychological make up, a set of personality traits and models of the world, the way we emotionally experience life. Hormones regulate metabolism, immune system, sleep, reproduction, have a massive effect on the whole body.
Our nervous system is the center of all mental activity including thought, learning, and memory. Like a sponge, it absorbs and reacts to the various triggers and stimulation. Overtime, through something called “neuroplasticity”, the brain changes and adapts, depending on what sort of stimulation we are exposed to and the chemical environment we live in. Our brains possess the remarkable capacity to reorganize pathways, create new connections, and, in some cases create new neurons, specialised brain cells, for more intelligence and resilience.
Food has a remarkable impact on brain chemistry, even when you think of it, see it, smell it or make up your mind you want to eat it. As soon as it is in your mouth, more potent chemical reactions are triggered. The hormone Insulin is so important to be called a Master hormone, which means many other hormones up-regulate or down-regulate depending on insulin.
Any carb or protein in your food will affect insulin, glucagon, leptin and ghrelin, neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Fat acts within specific brain regions to regulate a number of processes, such as neurotransmission and signaling pathways, which ultimately affects emotional behavior, see here.
It is clear that someone constantly exposed to junk will have a hard time keeping positive emotions and a healthy nervous system. In the junk (or low quality) category, I include dumb media, worrying news and clickbait entertainment, uninteresting or soul consuming work, toxins laden processed food and drinks.
This psychological and chemical environment will create emotional and physical stress, leading to inflammation, pain, a jumpy, nagging inner voice and the ultimate desire to numb, escape, retreat or shut down. As brain plasticity adapts and reflects the lifestyle, it will embed unhealthy coping behaviour, bring back negative patterns and hinder progress towards more harmony and peace.
How do you break the cycle and start moving towards more positive emotions and a healthier, happier existence? In a holistic system we could start from different aspects of our lifestyle: get psychological support from a therapist, start moving the body more through sport or dance, actively relax or meditate, cut back on junk media and crucially, improve the way we eat. Once on a virtuous cycle, things might start to fall into place more harmoniously.
It means achieving more mental clarity and awareness, better energy and vitality. It gradually becomes easier to reach for more positive change as the new lifestyle affects our brain plasticity, embedding newer habits, healthier patterns, more creativity and joy.
Like the stock market, trending up is the key. Noone is saved overnight, we all fall sometimes but I witnessed major breakthroughs during fasting and yoga retreats and I am the living example of someone who has massively improved his lifestyle and general health.
I stopped watching TV a long time ago, I now expose my nervous system to the news less than once weekly and I eat gorgeous, balanced wholefood with lots of vegetables, fruit and good amounts of brain healthy omega 3. Yoga, meditation and exposure to nature are a daily practice for me. Despite the limiting beliefs, self-boycott and lack of confidence a nagging inner voice might sometimes induce, healing can happen and it’s amazing to witness it.
Your nutrition can be improved straight away, all you need is some inspiration and a first, simple step: eliminate processed stuff, added sugar and industrial food. This will quickly balance blood sugar, lower insulin, cut back on metabolic stress, calm inflammation and eliminate pain and discomfort, emotional cravings and energy swings.
Sometimes the best way to start is through a detox and a reset through fasting or intermittent fasting. Some inspiration, a solid structure and a group of like-minded people to get going on your new path of transformation? Access the free Smiley Meal short course and sign up for our next Intermittent Fasting Group Program here.
What more? Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit, according to Yoga Master B.K.S. Iyengar. I totally agree.