Hi!
I was recently inspired after reading an article on the importance of tryptophan in the our diets and how it helps in regulating moods and overall feelings of well-being. Molecular biology isn't a particularly easy subject, so I'll try to sum it all up as best I can.
I read somewhere that while a ketonic diet rich in protein and fat with very low levels of carbohydrates does encourage weight loss, it may deplete energy levels and feelings of well-being. This is because meat-based foods are rich in tryptophan, a non-essential amino acid. When we eat eggs (very high amounts of tryptophan), red meat, soy, fish and cheese (as well as a few plant products like sunflower seeds), our body absorbs the tryptophan from these foods and our bloodstream carries it all over the body. In the brain, tryptophan is essential for the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate moods and (at least according to current research and Wikipedia) contributes to feelings of happiness and well being.
So this means that the more meat, eggs and fish we eat, the better we will feel, right? The truth is NO; protein-rich foods have a lot of different kinds of amino acids and not just tryptophan. When we eat a lot of protein-rich food, we flood our bodies with a whole variety of amino acids. The amino acids are all fighting to get into the brain and tryptophan is often out-crowded and pushed away by other amino acids. Therefore, tryptophan and indirectly, serotonin levels will actually drop after a protein-rich meal.
By eating a meal that combines proteins and complex carbohydrates, we actually reduce the amount of amino acids absorbed into our body (carbohydrate-rich foods tend to have less amino acids than protein-rich foods), and give tryptophan a chance to enter the brain unhindered. Serotonin is synthesized in the brain with the help of vitamin B6, another player in this complex biomolecular game. When serotonin levels rise, we feel better and therefore a meal that combines protein, fat and carbs will actually give you better moods (and indirectly, better performance ability) than a high-protein, high-fat diet. You should also eat foods rich in vitamin B6 like brown rice, wheat bran, dried spices like chili powder, garlic, tarragon, sage, turmeric , dill, oregano etc., pistachios and hazelnuts.
Has anyone here noticed mood changes when you switch from a carb-rich diet to a protein-rich one or vice versa? I'm planning to try out a couple of weeks of a high-protein diet and will monitor my moods over that time and see if there are any differences.
Feel free to comment on your own experiences with high-protein diets.
Brian Wolfe
I was recently inspired after reading an article on the importance of tryptophan in the our diets and how it helps in regulating moods and overall feelings of well-being. Molecular biology isn't a particularly easy subject, so I'll try to sum it all up as best I can.
I read somewhere that while a ketonic diet rich in protein and fat with very low levels of carbohydrates does encourage weight loss, it may deplete energy levels and feelings of well-being. This is because meat-based foods are rich in tryptophan, a non-essential amino acid. When we eat eggs (very high amounts of tryptophan), red meat, soy, fish and cheese (as well as a few plant products like sunflower seeds), our body absorbs the tryptophan from these foods and our bloodstream carries it all over the body. In the brain, tryptophan is essential for the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate moods and (at least according to current research and Wikipedia) contributes to feelings of happiness and well being.
So this means that the more meat, eggs and fish we eat, the better we will feel, right? The truth is NO; protein-rich foods have a lot of different kinds of amino acids and not just tryptophan. When we eat a lot of protein-rich food, we flood our bodies with a whole variety of amino acids. The amino acids are all fighting to get into the brain and tryptophan is often out-crowded and pushed away by other amino acids. Therefore, tryptophan and indirectly, serotonin levels will actually drop after a protein-rich meal.
By eating a meal that combines proteins and complex carbohydrates, we actually reduce the amount of amino acids absorbed into our body (carbohydrate-rich foods tend to have less amino acids than protein-rich foods), and give tryptophan a chance to enter the brain unhindered. Serotonin is synthesized in the brain with the help of vitamin B6, another player in this complex biomolecular game. When serotonin levels rise, we feel better and therefore a meal that combines protein, fat and carbs will actually give you better moods (and indirectly, better performance ability) than a high-protein, high-fat diet. You should also eat foods rich in vitamin B6 like brown rice, wheat bran, dried spices like chili powder, garlic, tarragon, sage, turmeric , dill, oregano etc., pistachios and hazelnuts.
Has anyone here noticed mood changes when you switch from a carb-rich diet to a protein-rich one or vice versa? I'm planning to try out a couple of weeks of a high-protein diet and will monitor my moods over that time and see if there are any differences.
Feel free to comment on your own experiences with high-protein diets.
Brian Wolfe
via Smart Health Shop Forum http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SmartHealthShopForum/~3/m6VPrq0DJxQ/10523-eating-well-balanced-diet-improve-ones-mood.html
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