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

Westend61 via Getty Images There’s a reason we call certain foods “comfort foods” ― they have the power to temporarily elevate our spirits. “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. “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. “Some studies suggest that tryptophan supplements can bring modest mental health benefits, but there are no studies I’m aware of demonstrating that eating tryptophan-rich foods can combat.” Foods that are rich in mood-regulating tryptophan According to experts, nuts and red meat are two of the foods that are richest in tryptophan, therefore directly related to mood-regulating properties. “There are high-carbohydrate ‘comfort’ foods that may help you feel temporarily less upset about being lonely, but that relief only lasts a few hours, and these very same foods will keep you on the metabolic roller coaster that drives exaggerated emotional reactions to loneliness and other stressful situations in the first place.” Staying away from those foods is a great way to avoid the “mood crash” that usually follows their consumption.