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| Edited By: Aseem Dixit |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Dec 17, 2017, 11:14 AM IST
I had heard this statement when I was in my teens by an elderly relative of ours. At the time, I did not actively try and thoroughly understand what this exactly meant. But for some reason, it was stuck in my subconscious mind. I kept asking people who apparently were specialists of food and health, namely dietitians and nutritionists but none could offer me a satisfactory answer.
I believe in nature and what all nature has provided us and so I always gravitated toward pure sciences like ayurveda. And this pull towards this age-old natural medical science got me an answer. It is common for certain Indian communities to not eat onion and garlic. I have many such people in my extended family. I do understand being a vegetarian as it is not at all necessary to “kill” in order to feed yourself and survive. There is too much in nature to choose from. Hinduism has always promoted vegetarianism and so I could totally grasp that aspect. I’ve always asked them even as a child that why is it you don’t eat onion and garlic, what is wrong with these two foods? Since 99.9% of people don’t know the “why” behind it, they would get irritated at my questioning and as a result I never got an answer.
Most Indians reading this will also have at least one relative who doesn’t eat onions and garlic. Why haven’t you probed them about it; haven’t you wondered why these two foods?
Foods affect our emotions, emotions affect our behavior; behavior affects personality. So that’s why we are what we eat.
It’s not only that if you keep having sugary foods you will get insulin resistance and most probably end up with type 2 diabetes but in the process of getting diabetic and thereon too, your mindset will change; you will have mood swings; you will be irritable and intolerant; your perspective will change since you are constantly fighting your body just to stay alive in a healthy state.
It is a struggle for the brain to keep you happy and unhealthy at the same time. It possibly can’t do that since too many hormonal changes are going on before and after every meal. Why do you think that many old people are intolerant and irritable most of the time, they become negative in the approach and are always complaining? What made them this way? Disease? Yes, partly correct but what gave them the disease? Their food choices. All your life you have a freewill which you choose to abuse day in and day out in the name of taste, “good time”, happiness, life, fun and youth. Well disease at a later age or any age is a result of all this and not just because someone got old so he has to get sick . No.
It is because that someone was not careful about food choices all his life and when his body gave him warnings, did not bother to heed them. My mother’s elder brother who passed away recently at the age of 91 was never diseased. He didn’t have to take a single medication daily. No hypertension, no diabetes, no heart disease, no kidney or liver disease, no indigestion, no dementia, no stroke, no eye or ear issue, no osteoporosis, no arthritis, nothing at all.
He knew from the very beginning that only exercise and healthy foods will keep him healthy to his dying day. And they did. There is absolutely no excuse to eat unhealthy food, period!
Let me try and explain. I want to start with the Ayurvedic research and explanation and then go onto the modern scientific explanations since modern science is in its infancy stage when it comes to researching the body , mind and diet connection , its only just begun. So let us try and understand what these great masters and researchers knew thousands of years back which we now have only very slightly begun to understand because modern science has only now begun to tap upon this subject.
According to Ayurveda there are three types of foods , Tamasic (pronounced : taa-ma-sic) , Rajasic (raaj-a-sic) and Sattvic ( saat-vic)
Tamasic Foods: Tamas means darkness, inertia. Praan, or energy, is withdrawn, powers of reasoning become clouded and a sense of inertia sets in. These foods neither benefit the body nor the mind. If you are interested in vital health and spiritual growth it is best to avoid these foods. Tamasic foods include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, alcohol and other intoxicants including drugs. Foods that are over-processed, no longer fresh, and/or difficult to digest are Tamasic. Foods that are prepared unconsciously or while the preparer is angry or in a negative mood are also considered Tamasic. Also tobacco, onions, garlic, fermented foods, such as vinegar, and stale leftover food, contaminated or overripe substances are considered tamasic.
Overeating is also regarded as tamasic. Tamasic is the unhealthiest food of all.
Rajasic Foods: rajas is the energy which we need to accomplish, create and achieve. It signifies worldly power and sex drive. The ancient Rishis (teachers) insisted that a combination of Sattvic and Rajasic foods for those who practice demanding disciplines such as endurance athletics, martial arts and yoga. They destroy the mind-body equilibrium, feeding the body at the expense of the mind. Too much Rajasic food will over stimulate the body and excite strong emotional qualities and passions, making the mind restless and uncontrollable. Rajasic foods include hot substances, such as sharp spices or strong herbs, stimulants, like coffee and tea, meat of animals and fish, eggs, salt and chocolate. Many of the ground foods are Rajasic. Eating in a hurry is also considered Rajasic. Foods that are very hot, bitter, sour, dry, or salty are Rajasic. So by now you mustve realized that nearly all of us eat mostly or for some of us over abundantly only Rajas foods and that’s why you will find over excited , restless, emotionally unstable and uncontrolled individuals.
Sattvic Foods: Sattva means quality of goodness, virtuousness, positivity, truth, serenity etc. It is the essence of purity. A Sattvic diet is the purest diet for people who desire to be consciously spiritual and healthy. These foods nourish the body and maintain it in a calm and peaceful state. They have a cleansing affect on the body. A Sattvic diet calms and purifies the mind, enabling it to function at its maximum potential. A Sattvic diet thus leads to true health: a peaceful mind in control of a healthy and robust body, with a balanced flow of energy between them. These foods include nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.
So now after this very tiny understanding of the basic food groups, let us see how these foods affect your emotions, behavior and general outlook in life in a “scientific” way, since modern science is the only science people nowadays tend to believe in. What’s interesting is that thousands of years of Ayurvedic research and experience is rubbished and looked down upon and modern science which till only very recently has begun to acknowledge the co-relation between foods and emotions, is taken to be sacred and correct. So be it.
Like an expensive car, your brain functions best when it gets only premium fuel. Eating high-quality foods that contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourishes the brain and protects it from oxidative stress — the “waste” (free radicals) produced when the body uses oxygen, which can damage cells.
Unfortunately, just like an expensive car, your brain can be damaged if you ingest anything other than premium fuel. If substances from “low-premium” fuel (such as what you get from processed or refined foods) get to the brain, it has little ability to get rid of them. Diets high in refined sugars, for example, are harmful to the brain. In addition to worsening your body’s regulation of insulin, they also promote inflammation and oxidative stress. Multiple studies have found a correlation between a diet high in refined sugars and impaired brain function — and even a worsening of symptoms of mood disorders, such as depression.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep and appetite, mediate moods, and inhibit pain. Since about 95% of your serotonin is produced in your gastrointestinal tract, and your gastrointestinal tract is lined with a hundred million nerve cells, or neurons, it makes sense that the inner workings of your digestive system don’t just help you digest food, but also guide your emotions. What’s more, the function of these neurons — and the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin — is highly influenced by the billions of “good” bacteria that make up your intestinal community of micro-organisms. These bacteria play an essential role in your health. They protect the lining of your intestines and ensure they provide a strong barrier against toxins and “bad” bacteria; they limit inflammation; they improve how well you absorb nutrients from your food; and they activate neural pathways that travel directly between the gut and the brain.
Other studies have compared “traditional” diets, like the Mediterranean diet, Indian diet and the traditional Japanese diet, to a typical “Western” diet and have shown that the risk of depression is 25% to 35% lower in those who eat a traditional diet. Scientists account for this difference because these traditional diets tend to be high in vegetables, fruits, unprocessed grains, and fish and seafood, and to contain only modest amounts of lean meats and dairy. They are also void of processed and refined foods and sugars, which are staples of the “Western” dietary pattern. In addition, many of these unprocessed foods are fermented, and therefore act as natural probiotics. Fermentation uses bacteria and yeast to convert sugar in food to carbon dioxide, alcohol, and lactic acid. It is used to protect food from spoiling and can add a pleasant taste and texture.
This may sound implausible to you, but the notion that good bacteria not only influence what your gut digests and absorbs, but that they also affect the degree of inflammation throughout your body, as well as your mood and energy level, is gaining traction among researchers. The results so far have been quite amazing.
The relationship between food and mood in individuals is complex and depends on the time of day, the type and macronutrient composition of food, the amount of food consumed, and the age and dietary history of the individual. The effects of a meal are different for males and females and for younger and older. Females feel greater sleepiness after a carbohydrate meal whereas males report greater calmness. Circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24 hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment. Circadian rhythms influence our energy levels and performance throughout the day. “Early birds” feel most productive the first part of the day and their food choices become particularly important during lunch and throughout the afternoon. “Night owls” feel most energetic later in the day and should pay attention to their breakfast choices as they can increase or decrease energy levels and influence cognitive functioning. If you are an evening person and you skip breakfast, your cognitive performance might be impaired. A large breakfast rich in protein, however, could improve your recall performance but might impair your concentration. This illustrates the complexity of relationships between food and mood and the need to find a healthy balance of food choices.
Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that the brain produces from tryptophan contained in foods such as “clams, oysters, escargots, octopus, squids, banana, pineapple, plum, nuts, milk, turkey”, spinach, and eggs. Functions of serotonin include the regulation of sleep, appetite, and impulse control. Increased serotonin levels are related to mood elevation. A diet rich in carbohydrates can relieve depression and elevate mood in disorders such as carbohydrate craving obesity, pre-menstrual syndrome, and seasonal affective disorder. A protein rich diet, in contrary, decreases brain serotonin levels.
In addition, “carbohydrate craving” is not an accurate description to describe the craving for foods such as chocolate, ice cream, and other sweets. Although people might think that these foods are high in carbohydrates because of their sweet taste, most of the calories come from fat and contain enough protein to undermine any effect of carbohydrates on serotonin levels. Omega-3 fatty acids(GHEE) can influence mood, behavior and personality.
Low blood levels of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids are associated with depression, pessimism and impulsivity. So go ahead bathe your oatmeal, toast, roti, daal , sabzis with ghee.
In addition, they can play a role in major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse and attention deficit disorder. In recent decades, people in developed countries have consumed greater amounts of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, contained in foods such as eggs, poultry, baked goods, whole wheat bread, nuts, and vegetable oils, that outcompete omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Especially Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), both members of the omega-3 fatty acid family, contribute to the fluidity of the cell membrane thereby playing an important role in brain development and functioning. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in ghee, fish, other seafood including algae and krill, some plants, meat, and nut oils. Many foods such as bread, yogurt, orange juice, milk, and eggs are oftentimes fortified with omega-3 fatty acids as well.
Insufficient amounts of thiamine or Vitamin B1 caused “introversion, inactivity, fatigue, decreased self-confidence and generally poorer mood” in participants. Improved thiamine status increased well-being, sociability, and overall energy levels. Thiamine is contained in foods such as cereal grains, pork, yeast, potatoes, cauliflower, oranges, and eggs and can influence mood states. Thiamine deficiency is very rare in the advanced countries.
Iron deficiency represents one of the most common nutritional problems in both developing and developed countries affecting over 2 billion people worldwide. Iron deficiency anemia can result in depressed mood, lethargy and problems with attention. A low iron status is most common among women, children, vegetarians, and people who follow a diet. Iron deficiency also results in a decreased ability to exercise. Foods rich in iron include liver, vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, and parsley, seafood, iron-fortified grains, greens, nuts, meat, and dried fruits.
Besides helping in the prevention of neural tube defects, Folic acid also plays an important role in the brain. Folic acid deficiency is associated with depressed mood. Foods rich in folic acid include dark, leafy green vegetables, liver and other organ meats, poultry, oranges and grapefruits, nuts, sprouts, and whole wheat breads.
Most people don't realise it, but gorging on processed foods that are usually rich in sugar and fat contributes to depositing excessive pounds on their tummy and increasing their stress hormones. When hormones turn wacky, it's normal to feel drained and exhausted.
What is more damaging is that processed foods give you a quick burst of energy, but bring you down fast. Do not consume processed foods and play with your health. This energy spike-crash cycle can have an adverse effect on your health.
This vicious cycle causes disturbed sleep patterns and stress. Your stressed body increases the levels of cortisol, which surges your cravings for processed and carbohydrate-rich foods while reducing your desire to consume healthy foods that are rich in proteins and vegetables.
Processed foods that are composed of sugar are known to cause instant mood swings. At first, sugar will alleviate your mood, but later make you feel sluggish and lethargic.
Individuals whose daily meal portions included 20 percent of processed foods were found to have more than 50 percent increased risk of becoming afflicted with depression.
Teenagers consume more sugary drinks (sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and the like) than people in other age groups(though nowadays I’m seeing more and more people having these who are in their 30’s , 40’s and 50’s). Sugar - especially in the form of high fructose corn syrup, which is now ubiquitous in everything from soda and salad dressing to yogurt and bread — can increase levels of stress hormones in the brain. As adolescence is a crucial time for brain development, high sugar consumption and the subsequent increase in stress hormones during this time may trigger mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.
Efforts to prevent crime and delinquency have focused almost exclusively on psychological and socioeconomic factors. Criminologists have largely ignored disturbed biochemical functioning as a possible cause of criminal behaviour. Like alcohol or drugs, ordinary foods or the lack of them can alter the mind and unleash criminal behaviour.
Excessive sugar, vitamin deficiencies, lead pollution, food additives, and food allergies can convert a normal brain into a criminal mind. Numerous case histories illustrate the link between diet and such behavior problems as hyperactivity in children.
Recent prison experiences have shown that dietary change or nutrition education programs have successfully reduced disciplinary problems and improved morale. Studies of alcohol abusers and heroin addicts have shown a connection between poor eating habits and psychological problems. Diets of substance abusers, hyperactive children, and others are characterized by high intake of sugar, processed and refined foods, and junk foods. Exercise has also been shown to improve mental attitudes and behavior. Moreover, light and color affect nutrition and behavior. Thus, a substantial body of evidence indicates that diet, toxic metals, food additives, insufficient nutrients, food allergy, lack of exercise, can all contribute to criminal behavior. Evidence is mounting that a good diet makes a positive difference when working with some offenders.
In what they say is the first longitudinal finding of its kind, researchers report that boys who ate sweets daily at age 10 are significantly more likely to commit violent crimes in adulthood.
Genes are an unlikely explanation because what 10-year-olds eat is largely governed by their immediate environment. Sweet-eating children don't learn to defer gratification and carry impulsive behaviors into adulthood. They also speculate that big candy eaters are also more likely to eat additive-laden food--which some researchers claim has adverse behavioral effects throughout life.
A predilection for junk food causes hypoglycemia. That involves drastic fluctuations in blood glucose levels. High glucose levels trigger major insulin secretion to soak it up, which then leads to a shortage of glucose. That, in turn, can lead to nervousness and irritability and provoke a full-blown aggressive outburst.
In 1980, Professor Stephen Schoenthaler began researching the relationship between nutrition and crime in 1980. He reported that institutional violence in Virginia had been cut in half after reducing the amount of sugar in the diet at no cost. By 1985, his research teams had successfully replicated such behavioral changes in 817 institutions in New York City, Los Angeles, and other locations within Virginia, Alabama, and California. These results included a 16 percentile improvement in English and Math scores among 1.1 million New York City schoolchildren and 48% reduction in juvenile violence among over 7,000 confined teenagers. Many of these childrens daily caloric intakes were over 25% sucrose, two and a half times above the World Health Organizations upper safety limit.
In 1985, Professor Schoenthaler’s teams discovered a link between high sugar intake and low vitamin and intake in juvenile and adult correctional facilities in New York, Florida, Oklahoma, and California. It appeared that a high sugar diet was displacing essential nutrients for good health. Even more startling, Professor Schoenthaler reported that low vitamin and mineral intake was linked with institutional violence. In fact, low intake was a better predictor of institutional violence than violence before incarceration.
There are countless studies done across the globe which prove beyond any doubt that sugar and junk foods do in fact generate criminal tendencies in children, adolescents and adults.
Watch your children at a birthday party, before the cake has been served and after. From very normal playful children they convert to aggressive, violent and mean children. You do also say to each other “oh look at the sugar rush” but don’t realize what kind of dangerous processes are going on in your child’s mind. All thanks to that one thing which for some dumb and idiotic reason is connected with all happiness, sugar.
Junk food directly affects fertility in males and females.
Our brains are literally sculpted by what we eat. If it’s too much fat, too much sugar, or just too much, there may be permanent consequences for our brain function. Keeping our brains in shape is one more reason to clean up our diets. In my opinion it should be the only reason which compels you to clean your kitchen of the precious poisons that have been stored there and clean up your diet. If you don’t feel compelled enough to have a healthy body then I sincerely hope you will to have a healthy brain. What is the point of making any efforts to make a career, family, money, status if after a few years you end up possessing a neurological cesspool, your brain.
