Food and Mood
By Nick Midgley
The food we eat, and when we eat it has a direct impact on our mood, how we function, and how we look and feel about ourselves.
Our bodies aren’t designed to consume the often, excessive amounts of sugary and processed foods we
frequently eat unconsciously. We were once primal creatures that ate only to survive, would regularly go days without eating, and when we did eat only food that grew organically in season, and meat without hormones. Now we eat to regulate, and frequently to suppress emotions, which often leads to overindulgence in high-calorie comfort foods..
Often our bodies don’t even recognise this as being food because of the amount of sugar and chemicals in it. As a result, our bodies don’t digest it properly, and this leads to inflammation in the body and brain, and causes disease and mood disorders like anxiety and depression. We force feed three meals a day to our children against their will, because somewhere along the line we were taught to eat like that. This takes away not only their discipline around food, but their ability to understand how food works as a fuel for their bodies and helps them function cognitively.
There is nothing wrong with abstaining from food for periods of time. When we experience hunger our bodies’ survival mechanisms kick in and our senses sharpen. We become more focused and more conscious in those moments. So when we have important talks or tasks to perform, a little bit of hunger can have great impacts on our performance.
There is also no one diet to fit all. Over years of personal training and coaching, I’ve seen KETO, Vegan, and carnivore diets work really well for some people, yet nearly kill others. We can also get blood tests by nutritionists, and muscle tests by kinesiologists and naturopaths to see what foods suit our bodies best. But if we listen to our bodies, they will also tell us what we need.
Essentially, people who make the right choices around food, and when to eat will experience a far better quality of life, not just physically but mentally too.
Nick Midgley is the Co-Founder of Hope in Health, a holistic mental health and addiction facility based in Pottsville. As a former professional boxer who battled a heroin addiction for more than 22 years, he now uses his experiences, learnings and insight to help others heal from their trauma and overcome the
despair of addiction. You can reach out to Nick via email at nick.midgley@hopeinhealth.com.au.
