We’ve written in the past about the fact that certain foods could be good for your mood. The opposite is also true.  Food can make a big impact on how we feel and we know that how we feel can impact our moods.  Foods can also toy with our hormone levels as well and that could impact the mood we’re in, leaving us blue, edgy, or sluggish and listless.

Deli Meats and Hot Dogs

Nitrates could cause headaches so be careful with cured meats as they could leave you feeling grouchy with a headache.

Processed Foods

Trans fats and other bad-for-you foods could make you irritable and possibly even aggressive.

Sugary Foods

Sugary foods could cause mood swings.  You get a temporary lift from the sugar but you’ll soon experience a crash and as you come down from your sugar high it could feel like a big ole let down in terms of mood and energy levels.  It’s not good when you’ve got to focus, concentrate, or show leadership to others (at work or in your family). Beware of too much sugar! It’s a cycle that you should avoid as your mood swings could lead you to binge on more sugar which could lead to more foul moods, and so on.

White Carbs

White carbs aren’t the best for you, as you know, but they’re also not the best for your mood, either. Some are high in high fructose corn syrup, which can even stop your brain from deciding it’s full. Too many white carbs and HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) could lead to overeating and the resulting self-loathing that often comes afterwards.

Tracking Food and Mood

Striving to eat food that makes you feel good can translate to a good mood.  Consider keeping track of how you feel when you eat certain things in a food diary and you can pinpoint triggers for good mood, bad mood, good digestion, and energy.