We know that a diet full of whole grains, fruits and vegetables is healthy. It might even help us avoid some diseases, such as cancer or heart disease. But did you know that the foods you eat might also affect how you think and feel? Maybe by changing what you eat, you can be happier or smarter!
Picture this, it’s the middle of the night and you’re lying in bed, wide awake. You wonder if a snack will help you sleep. If you choose right, you might drift off to dreamland. But eat the wrong snack, and you’ll still be awake when the birds begin to sing. What will it be? Some foods help people feel relaxed and sleepy: cereals, potatoes, or pasta, for example. But who wants spaghetti （意大利式细面条） in the middle of the night? How about a cup of warm milk? For many people, that’s just the right thing for relaxation.
How about this: it’s one of those awful days when everything seems to go wrong for you. What foods will make you feel better? Super-sweet snacks, such as candy or soda, can give you a quick lift. But beware: those sweets will let you down with a crash in a short while. Instead, try a handful of Brazil nuts, a glass of milk, or a spinach salad. All these foods contain nutrients （营养物） that seem to lift spirits and help fight the blues （忧郁）.
But why do certain foods affect our moods? The answer is complex and has to do with certain chemicals called neurotransmitters （神经递质）. Neurotransmitters carry messages to and from our brains. Neurotransmitters do more than carry messages. They also produce some of our moods, such as happiness or relaxation. Many neurotransmitters are built from the foods we eat. If you don’t eat enough of a certain food, your brain might not be able to make enough of the neurotransmitter that helps you feel energetic. As a result, you might feel sleepy instead of feeling awake.
So the next time you feel sad because you had a fight with your best friend, try a glass of milk and a handful of Brazil nuts instead of that soda. You might be surprised at how much better you feel.