Some foods make us happy and others make us sleepy. But there are also foods (especially those that are processed or artificially created) that can make us grumpy and irritable. Some of these you may already know about, but others may surprise you. Here’s what to avoid if you want to get along with your co-workers or significant other.
Ordinary Holiday Ham. These hams come from “farm factories” whose pigs are pumped up with antibiotics and injected with sugar, salt, fillers and nitrate preservatives. Consuming hams with all these substances can give you headaches and make you feel depressed. In Balanced Eating for a Better Mood, Registered Holistic Nutritionist Claire LeGresley notes that processed meat such as hotdogs or deli meats contain mood-altering nitrates, preservatives and additives that cause low moods, headaches and crankiness.
Packaged Peanuts. These usually contain food additives like monosodium glutamate (MSG), which can lead to migraines and irritability. WebMD notes that MSG is a common cause of migraines.
Processed Pumpkin Seeds. These seeds are often coated in potassium bromate. Healthy Balance MD notes that potassium bromate is an endocrine disruptor that competes for the same receptors in your thyroid that are needed to capture iodine, which is essential for thyroid function. So consuming potassium bromate can throw your thyroid levels out of whack, which can lead to depression.
Vegetable Shortening. Used widely in holiday baking, vegetable shortening elevates the omega-6 fatty acids that block out mood-promoting omega-3 fatty acids. As noted in a recent Penn State News brief, people with bipolar disorder have lower levels of certain omega-3 fatty acids that cross the blood-brain barrier than people who do not.
Sodas. Most sodas and many fruit juice drinks contain way too much sugar, and liquefied sugar is the fastest way to get sugar into your bloodstream. This causes your mood to nosedive after the initial sugar rush. An article in Prevention points to studies that link sugar with depression.
Chips, Crackers, Pretzels. These snacks contain lots of refined carbohydrates. The Prevention article also noted that researchers at Columbia University found a link between refined carbohydrates and depression.
NutraSweet, Equal & Spoonful. These contain aspartame, which can lead to irritability and aggression. According to an Aspartame Consumer Safety Network brief by Lendon Smith, M.D., there is an enormous population suffering from side effects associated with aspartame. This includes insomnia, depression and/or PMS.
Alex A. Kecskes is a published author of "Healer a Novel" available on Amazon. He has written hundreds of film reviews and celebrity interviews for a wide variety of online and print outlets. He has covered red carpet premieres and Comic-Con events for major films and independent releases.
