Can Food Actually Lift Your Mood When You're Feeling Down?

There’s a reason we call certain foods “comfort foods” ― they have the power to temporarily elevate our spirits. But is there any science behind certain ingredients’ ability to affect our emotions?

“The term ‘comfort foods’ is code for foods that spike your blood sugar and dopamine levels, which can bring a quick, temporary sense of relief when you are feeling upset, anxious or overwhelmed,” said Dr. Georgia Ede, a board-certified psychiatrist and author of ” Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind.”

But ironically, these foods ― which are rich in refined carbohydrates ― are the ones that “drive that emotional discomfort in the first place,” according to Ede.

But there is a category of nutrients that can positively impact people’s dispositions and are scientifically proven to regulate the hormones that affect your mood.

How can food regulate someone’s mood?

According to studies, a food’s mood-regulating properties are directly related to tryptophan, an essential amino acid that the human body cannot produce on its own and must therefore be procured through one’s diet. (You’ve likely heard about tryptophan in turkey at Thanksgiving, when it’s oftenblamed for causing sleepiness ― tryptophan helps produce melatonin, aka the sleep hormone.) It’s found in many common foods we eat, including oats, bananas, milk, tuna, cheese and chicken.

“Consuming foods high in tryptophan may contribute to increased serotonin levels in the brain to have a positive effect on depression and loneliness,” said Dr. Raj Dasgupta , chief medical advisor at Sleepopolis.

Although Ede conceded that the amino acid does, indeed, affect one’s mood, she was clear about it being more of a regulatory force than a boosting one.

“The brain absorbs