Think of your body as a top-of-the-line Mercedes Benz. Anyone who has ever owned one of these vehicles knows that the premium price tag isn\u2019t the only premium you\u2019ll be paying for owning it. While the car runs on fuel like most others on the road, the type<\/em> of fuel you put into it for the car to run smoothly is different.<\/p>\n While you could<\/em> fill up the vehicle with low-quality fuel to continue driving, it won\u2019t be good for the vehicle in the long run. Instead, premium vehicles ask for premium fuels to help them run effectively. The same is true with the human body; the better your nutritional choices, most likely, the better your physical and mental health should be, too.<\/p>\n A clear example of this is shown through serotonin. Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter in your body that influences your sleep, appetite, mood, and even pain receptors.<\/p>\n Research shows that about 95% of serotonin in the body is produced in your gastrointestinal tract<\/a>. That means your digestive system plays an important part in determining your mental health\u2014a clear indicator of how food affects your mood. All of these factors influence how a nutritionist, for instance, might help clients shape their daily diet to improve their health.<\/p>\n Some might argue that the human body has not one, but two brains that control all of its functions. While this sounds like science fiction, we assure you it’s not.<\/p>\n The \u201csecond brain\u201d that many scientists and health professionals are referring to is the enteric nervous system<\/a>, which is commonly associated with your gastrointestinal system.<\/p>\n This is where all of the talk about having good \u201cgut health\u201d derives from. The kombucha, kefir, and other products you might love to eat and drink are fostering the growth of hardworking bacteria in your gut. It sounds a bit bizarre, but there is a growing amount of research that suggests the bacteria in your gut have a lot of power over your overall health. Gut health-boosting foods may support your immune system and could help prevent diseases in your body. These can contain probiotics themselves or prebiotics, which are food for probiotics. Here\u2019s a few to look out for:<\/p>\n In short, the saying, \u201cyou are what you eat,\u201d might actually have more truth to it than many originally thought. The food you make for yourself and others can have immense power for affecting your mood.<\/p>\n So, we\u2019ve established that good nutrition is important for mental wellbeing and that food affects your mood. We\u2019ve also touched upon how the bacteria produced from the food you ingest have been shown to have impacts on your brain and body.<\/p>\n All of this is connected to your diet, and as someone interested in culinary arts, it\u2019s important to have a solid understanding of the nutritional value of the food you make.<\/p>\n While diets are highly personalized to our individual needs, generally speaking, a healthy diet<\/a> consists of five major food groups: vegetables, fruits, lean protein sources, whole grains, and milk and dairy products.<\/p>\n And while all of these food groups can work together to provide a balanced distribution of key nutrients and vitamins to the body, one diet that has shown beneficial results for how food affects your mood is the Mediterranean diet.<\/p>\n The Mediterranean Diet is a way of eating based on the eating habits of people from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It\u2019s a fairly flexible diet with no single definition. Most often, it\u2019s high in:<\/p>\n But it\u2019s easy to get caught up in the wild world of diet culture. Certainly, there is a lot of merit in understanding the optimal foods to eat for a healthy body. But sometimes you might just be having a bad day and need a pick-me-up. Think about those nights on the couch when you\u2019re watching your favorite show and eating some chocolate and other treats. Sometimes that\u2019s all you need to quickly shift your mood.<\/p>\n Understanding what foods affect you\u2014and how\u2014can be a powerful way to take greater control over your life.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re someone who\u2019s already interested in natural ways to improve your wellness, then pursuing an education in holistic nutrition<\/a> may be for you. You can discover more about mood foods, probiotics, and diets that can facilitate good gut health.<\/p>\n People who pursue an education in Holistic Nutrition may become personal chefs<\/a> or food wellness coaches<\/a> who work everyday to help others find foods that make them feel good both physically and mentally. Contact us today<\/a> for more information!<\/p>\n\n\t Uncover how the food you eat can have profound impacts on your mood and well-being, including probiotics, mood foods, holistic nutrition, and gut health. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":29545,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1370],"tags":[1316],"class_list":["post-29544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness-careers","tag-health-and-nutrition"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Secret of the \u201cSecond Brain\u201d<\/h2>\n
\n\t\n\tWhat are gut health-boosting foods?<\/h3>\n
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A Healthy Diet for Whole-Body Wellness<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\n\tWhat is the Mediterranean Diet?<\/h3>\n
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Empower Your Body and Mind<\/h2>\n
![\"Chef](\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Stephanie-Michalak-White.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\t)
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOLISTIC NUTRITION AND WELLNESS, TRY THESE ARTICLES NEXT:<\/h3>\n\n\t\n
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