Variety, taking care of yourself and finding out what works best for you are all factors of food and your mood.
Overall diet contributes to mood, said Jessica-Lauren Roberts, dietician and nutrition adviser for the lifetime wellness and fitness program.
"It's not about one specific food, one specific nutrient, vitamin or mineral," Roberts said. "It's a combination of many things."
Also, there are instances where the chemistry in a particular food does not agree with a person's body.
"Say you really like ice cream, but all the sudden you're lactose intolerant, then actually eating that food is going to give you a stomach ache, which is not going to be a pleasant experience, and that might affect your mood," Roberts said.
Iron and B vitamins also play an important role in energy, but there are multiple other factors.
"There's a lot that goes into how food affects us," Roberts said. "There's several nutrients, vitamins and minerals that we know play a role in hormones and things like serotonin, but it's not just one specific nutrient."
A lack of variety in food is one of the most common causes of nutrition-related fatigue.
"Vitamins and minerals are the co-factors for energy production, so when we miss (them) our body can't use the food we've consumed to make energy," Roberts said.
Also, according to Roberts, proper hydration is one of the most important aspects of feeling well and energized.
People used to think tryptophan, an ingredient found in turkey, would make a person tired, but Roberts said that the tired feeling comes from eating a large, high-fat meal.
Fatigue has a huge impact on mood because it alters emotions and motivation, Roberts said.
Aside from the chemical affects, food has an impact on the psychological aspect of a person's mood.
Roberts used the example of comfort food to illustrate the emotional impact food has on a person's mood.
"It's not just about the food that you're consuming and the chemistry behind that, but also how you perceive that food and what it means to you," she said.
Mike Judge, senior in hotel and restaurant management, said he understands the psychological impact of food on a person's mood.
Certain foods release endorphins which directly affect a person's mood. Food is also cultural with social implications, Judge said.
Also, Judge said if a person believes in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, then food is grouped with the first and most fundamental necessities of life.
Taste buds are directly related to sense of smell, which is the closest linked sense toward memory, therefore positive memories will associate with food, he said.
"A well balanced diet receiving all essential nutrients keeps your body functioning like a machine; not meeting that demand will cause an imbalance in mood," Judge said.
In addition, Judge said, because alcohol is a depressant, it inhibits brain function and weakens the immune system, making a person more susceptible to illness.
Roberts said the biggest problem with college students' diets is simply not thinking about what they are eating.
"You would be surprised at the number of students that sit in my office for consultations that consume no fruits and vegetables throughout the day, and that will happen for three or four days at a time," Roberts said. "Fruits and vegetables are a really great way for us to get in certain vitamins and minerals."
Planning and educating is the best way to eat healthy. If you have to resort to fast food, pick a meal that is well rounded with carbs, protein and a little bit of fat.
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