There is an important link between what we eat and how we feel. The link between diet and emotions stems from the close relationship between your brain and your gastrointestinal tract, which is sometimes called the “second brain.”
Here’s how it works: Your GI tract is home to billions of bacteria that influence the production of chemical substances carrying messages from the gut to the brain. Two common examples of these chemicals are dopamine and serotonin.
Eating nutritionally dense food promotes the growth of “good” bacteria, which in turn positively affect the production of these chemicals. When production is optimal, your brain receives the positive messages loud and clear, but when production goes awry, so does your mood! When you nourish yourself with a diet of nutrient-rich foods, you’re setting yourself up for fewer mood
swings and symptoms of depression and anxiety,
as well as an improved ability to focus.
