Surprising Ways Your Diet Affects Your Mood

By: Isabella Scala

When I think of the great times and memories I have with family and friends, I tend to think of situations involving food. Whether that’s pasta nights with my family at home or late-night chicken tender runs with my friends at school, it seems like socializing and food goes hand-in-hand. While eating with friends can be something awesome, we have to be cognisant of how the type of food that we put into our bodies can affect not just our physical health, but our mental and emotional health, too.

Food is something that we put in our bodies every day, so it makes sense that our diet affects our mental wellbeing! Upon doing some research, I found that serotonin, a chemical that mediates your mood, is produced in your gastrointestinal tract, meaning that the nutrients you choose to fill your body with are directly related to your mood. Other studies have also shown that eating unhealthy foods in large quantities can trigger, or worsen, depression and anxiety. Although it is a cliche, we literally are what we eat, so when we give our bodies the tools it needs to function properly, it can cause us to feel more upbeat, alert, and energetic.

So how do you accomplish eating healthy foods here at Villanova? Here’s a few tips to give you a little pick-me-up throughout the day:

Yogurt

Yogurts have naturally-occuring probiotics, which are known to positively influence your mood. To make your Holy Grounds yogurt more filling, try adding granola, your choice of fruit, and honey to make yourself a mini parfait!

Smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to get all the fruits and veggies you need in on the go. Freshens on campus has a ton of great options for smoothies, and they can even make smoothies without added sweeteners if you ask!

Fruits & Nut Butter

This is a quick and easy snack that you can keep in your bag for some energy on the go. Apples and peanut butter, bananas and almond butter...you can’t go wrong!

Nuts

Nuts are full of healthy fats that will fill you up and keep you energized. A handful of almonds or a pouch of mixed nuts (preferably with bits of dark chocolate) are great snacks for when you get hungry in between classes.

Energy Bars

Some energy bars are full of added sugars and empty calories, but bars such as Rx Bars and K.I.N.D. bars are full of nuts, eggs, and plenty of other healthy ingredients. A granola bar and a piece of fruit is a great snack or on-the-go breakfast!