The relationship between nutrition and mood.. 2

The relationship between nutrition and mood, are there foods that can make you feel happy, and others that can make you feel depressed?

From the book "300 questions in comprehensive nutrition"

By Dr. Cherifa Aboul Fettouh

Q: what is the difference between "bulimia" and "anorexia" and are they related to depression or other mental illness?

A: We must define each of them:

First Bulimia: Is an illness of binge eating which has two types: Binge eating: people who have episodes of overeating, getting a large amount of calories in a short period of time and then they get rid of the food by vomiting. Also, excessive training or slimness: where we find the patient reaching out to every way in order to reduce weight, for example: consuming laxatives and weight loss drugs ... etc.

Anorexia: is the opposite of bulimia. It can be perfectly noticed on some people who suffer from slimness, almost do not eat. And the most notable example is fashion models that despite their obvious slimness see themselves in the mirror as obese!
"Bulimic" people can be identified easily. They are characterized by good shaped bodies without slimness and specific way of walking and moving different from others.
Both are among the types of mental illnesses that need to be treated, since their patients suffer from depression and stress.

Unfortunately, I have noticed a large proportion of adolescents in Egypt and Arab countries who suffer from "bulimia" and we always recommend moderation in eating with psychotherapy for such patients.

Q: Is there a relationship between children's hyperactivity and the food they consume?

A: Yes, there is a relationship between the child's excessive activity known as "hyperactivity" and the food he consumes. Also the impact of the quality of food may extend to reach a lack of attention in some children due to their increased "activity". Therefore, it is important to take notice in dealing with this problem because food can help solve it as it can cause it.

Generally, there are types of food and beverage that should be completely prevented, namely:

- Sugar, especially refined sugar, makes the children "hyperactive". Evidentially, people in hard labor jobs frequently consume it to give them energy. It is advisable to serve children foods free of "simple sugars" and replace with "Joy foods" that provide children with a feeling of happiness such as: rice pudding, porridge and vegetables, especially that they are healthy and high in nutrients.
- Soft drinks: of all types are completely forbidden for children up to the age of 12 because they affect the brain. Caffeine is particularly harmful at this age, as well as being "empty nutrient" in the sense that they do not benefit the child by any means. Therefore, children who consume soft drinks frequently become "hyperactive" because they contain caffeine and cause osteoporosis.

I always lift the slogan of "moderation" and I still say moderation ... consume everything moderately. For example:

- Legumes: can improve the mood, but this doesn't mean that you can consume 1 kilogram of "pulp" or "peanuts" just a little of them is enough because consuming a lot can actually cause an increase in weight.
- Beans, lentils and chickpeas: Also improve mood since they contain protein and "the amino acid tryptophan", but should not be consumed frequently because they can cause an increase in weight. They are best consumed with bran bread which is a very important provider of carbohydrates and helps improve the mood.
- Vegetables: especially green salads which are rich in vitamin "C". Surprisingly, God created the types of food that helps improve the mood and does not cause obesity and vice versa, foods that can cause depression are the same that cause obesity, although it might taste delicious but temporarily just like: fat, refined sugar and alcohol.

Here I can only repeat: consume moderately.