Our Emotions and Our Food

Emotions can reflect in the perception of food consumption. The relation between food choice and emotional status is complex. Some foods are chosen in order to improve emotional states for example decrease depression or stress. On the other hand, food preferences depend substantially on current mood. It often becomes a habit, if one uses food to calm themselves when under stress. 

Stress is a negative factor that affects health, so food consumption as a means to cope with stress, from which individuals derive pleasure (whether the food is sweet or not), provides comfort and alleviates the reaction to stress. If the consumption of comfort food helps a person recover faster after a stressful event, then such behavior can be protective. Studies have shown that sugar or a sweet taste can relieve stress by inhibiting cortisol secretion or activating endogenous cannabinoid receptors in the body. Studies have also confirmed that people with psychophysiological stress are at risk of consuming unhealthy comfort foods. However, unhealthy eating actually has a comfort connection and confirms the association between emotions and lifestyle with a negative effect on physical health. Apart from stress, the relationship between emotional reasons or conditions such as a depressive mood, loneliness, boredom, and emotional consolation as reasons for food consumption

Hence, emotions can provoke emotional eating behavior, which may contribute to the risk of developing chronic diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other adverse health consequences. Therefore, it is important to be aware of ways to deal with emotional states. In states overwhelmed by emotions, it is necessary to think about healthy ways of dealing with stress, depression, or other emotional states. Instead of emotional eating behavior and consumption of unhealthy food, emphasis should be placed on healthy lifestyle habits, such as physical exercise and healthy eating.