What Foods Do You Eat When You Have the Blues?

[Ruby]

Lots of people eat chocolate for a lift. I've found that a banana about a half-hour before bedtime helps me get sleepy. I've read this is because bananas contain tryptophan, a natural amino acid that makes you sleepy (turkey has it too).

What foods lift your spirits? (Booze doesn't count!)  

[Fat Guy]

Buffalo wings.

[Jinmyo]

I've never understood this.

[Fat Guy]

Are you saying you've never understood buffalo wings? And if so, are you saying you've never understood what they are, or why people like them, or why they cheer me up?

[Jinmyo]

Ha ha. Yes, I understand buffalo wings. And I understand why people like them. I can understand them cheering you up if you had been wanting some ("I gots no buffalo wings. Sigh.") and then got some ("Hey! This is great!"). And I understand that eating can shift the biochemistry so that one has a sense of well-being, especially if one is worn down. But eating to feel better doesn't make sense to me. Unless one feels better because one is reminded of the actuality of one's life through tasting and chewing and all of the experiences and mechanics of eating and the transience of moods no longer seems significant. But I don't understand seeking out a particular food when one is "blue".

I know that many people do this. I just don't get it.

[Fat Guy]

Many people? I think it's more than that. It's a near-universal human experience as far as I'm concerned. You're saying you reject the notion of comfort food altogether? I guess I'm still not sure I understand what it is you think you don't understand.

[Ruby]

And I understand that eating can shift the biochemistry so that one has a sense of well-being, especially if one is worn down. But eating to feel better doesn't make sense to me. Unless one feels better because one is reminded of the actuality of one's life through tasting and chewing and all of the experiences and mechanics of eating and the transience of moods no longer seems significant. But I don't understand seeking out a particular food when one is "blue".

I know that many people do this. I just don't get it.\

Jynmyo, certain foods produce tryptophan which is used by the brain to produce Serotonin, an essential neurotransmitter that elevates moods, appetite and general well being. Also, I notice when my serotonin levels are low, I get migraine headaches.

I'm not an expert on serotonin but have been very interested in the relationship between foods and mood for a long time. I know that when I eat certain foods like pasta, turkey, bananas and beans, my general mood and energy goes up. Listed are some websites that are interesting and might answer your question.

http://www.dummies.com/Health....01.html

http://www.therapyworld.com/mood-foods.cfm

http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/0515.html

There may also be a psychological connection with 'comfort' foods that brings back happy memories. On a lighter note, other foods, like ribs, buffalo wings, fried chicken, go great with a cold beer and that's always a mood lifter!  

[Jinmyo]

Good food is good so I feel good when I eat it. Bad food is bad so I don't eat it. Unless it's really good although it's bad.

If I feel bad, I probably have gas. Bad food. Oh well.

[Fat Guy]

I don't understand seeking out a particular food when one is "blue". I know that many people do this. I just don't get it.

Just to be clear: Do you accept the premise that food can affect people's moods for both physiological and psychological reasons?

[Jinmyo]

Well, the physiological and psychological are entwined but there can also be vast divergences. The physiological effects of eating/not eating/what is eaten are understandable and basically clear. The psychological can be almost infinitely specific.

Food is good, eating is good. I have wept at great flavours and textures. But there's no consolation to be had from chocolate in the mouth or foie on the fork or champagne in the glass. They weren't the problem, they're not the solution.

To me a "comfort food" is something I recognize irrelevant associations with, that are amusing or not so much, and that might or might not influence whether I cook or eat it or not depending upon a wide array of other factors. To look to food for comfort instead of enjoyment makes me unfomortable because there's just food there. Which is great because food is good. What I've eaten over the last seven years is here as me and is shedding into the air as I type.

Mebbe I just don't get chocolate. Probably the problem. It makes my teeth hurt, my head ache, and want a nice coffee instead.

[Jinmyo]

Ack. I didn't mean to interrupt this thread. Sorry. Please post here people. It's an interesting thread.

[Fat Guy]

I will now proceed to beat the dead horse:

They weren't the problem, they're not the solution.

Some problems can't be solved. I mean, if grandpa dies, what can you do about that? You can't reanimate him, which would be the direct solution. So you make do with secondary solutions, like mourning his loss, celebrating his life, and eating buffalo wings because buffalo wings are good and they make you feel good. And when you feel bad, feeling good has a higher apparent value than when you're already feeling good.

And sometimes a problem can be solved with effort, but eating buffalo wings is easier. So once in awhile, when we're feeling too lazy and unmotivated to solve a problem for real, what's wrong with eating the buffalo wings instead? Does this really never work for you? Even with extra blue cheese?

I suggest you try an experiment: Next time you're bummed out about something, eat some of your favorite food and report back to us.

[Sandra Levine]

I'm guessing that Jinmyo is thin.

[A Balic]

I don't have a "comfort food" for when I'm feeling low, but I do have "comfort gin".

[Jinmyo]

If I'm bummed out it's because I've burned the rice.  So I make a new pot.  

[Ruby]

I will now proceed to beat the dead horse:

They weren't the problem, they're not the solution.

Some problems can't be solved. I mean, if grandpa dies, what can you do about that? You can't reanimate him, which would be the direct solution. So you make do with secondary solutions, like mourning his loss, celebrating his life, and eating buffalo wings because buffalo wings are good and they make you feel good. And when you feel bad, feeling good has a higher apparent value than when you're already feeling good.

Jynmyo, I agree with Fat Guy about foods helping moods. His example about funerals reinforces my opinion that food does comfort. In the Jewish religion, whenever I've been to a funeral we eat afterwards-usually at someone's house. When I'm mourning, the last thing I personally want to do is eat yet this tradition makes sense to me. And the food served is usually hearty-no petite tea sandwiches.

Food is primal and comforts and nurtures-it goes back to caveman days when people sat around the fire and broke bread. It is not a problem or a solution-it just IS.

Okay, other than buffalo wings, what other foods do people on these boards like to eat when they're in the dumps?

[tommy]

Okay, other than buffalo wings, what other foods do people on these boards like to eat when they're in the dumps?

i'm very rarely depressed.  i think most of the "comforting" i need stems from over-indulgence the previous day, which is more of a physical need than a psychological need.  

i think my list is fairly typical, and therefore probably not very interesting:

- a good cheeseburger.

- buffalo wings are fun.  hadn't thought of them.  they are festive by nature i think, and usually imply beer.

- mashed potatoes make me smile.

[jhlurie]

I was just going to be a wiseass and answer "booze" to the original question, but the diversion from the original topic has changed that impulse.

I'm no lightweight, but I find that when I'm upset that I DON'T eat.

The times when I have a drink before bed are linked more to either a celebratory mood or a need to make myself sleepy, as oppossed to calming myself down (the sugar in the booze picks me up, but the alcohol brings me down...).

Now as to food before bed, I'm making a concerted effort these days to NOT eat in the last hour before bed.  But when I did, it was usually to give myself a quick energy boost so that I could do all of the little pre-bed-time rituals without falling asleep standing in front of the sink with a toothbrush in my mouth.

Unfortunately the premise of this thread gives me a little bit of trouble, but in a different way from Jinmyo.  We've got all kinds of talk about what substances bring us up and down, and those are really two completely different things.  When I want to "relax" I don't feel a pressing need to feel energetic, but on the other hand, when I feel energetic my mood is indeed better.

[Ruby]

Okay, other than buffalo wings, what other foods do people on these boards like to eat when they're in the dumps?

i think my list is fairly typical, and therefore probably not very interesting:

- a good cheeseburger.

- buffalo wings are fun.  hadn't thought of them.  they are festive by nature i think, and usually imply beer.

- mashed potatoes make me smile.

Oh yeah, Tommy! Mashed potatoes are the Ultimate comfort food. I've never met anyone who doesn't like them. I can eat the whole thing right from the bowl.

A big bowl of ice cream also cheers me. It brings back memories of those wonderful sundaes with the gooey nuts, whipped cream and cherry on top. Ya can't be in the dumps when you eat ice cream.

[Ruby]

Unfortunately the premise of this thread gives me a little bit of trouble, but in a different way from Jinmyo.  We've got all kinds of talk about what substances bring us up and down, and those are really two completely different things.  When I want to "relax" I don't feel a pressing need to feel energetic, but on the other hand, when I feel energetic my mood is indeed better.

When I'm energetic, I believe it's because my blood sugar is not low. I feel differently, am more energized and see things in a clearer perspective. I notice when I'm very busy and don't eat, my blood sugar sinks and I get blue when I have no reason to feel down in any way. I then realize 'hey, eat something.' Sure enough, I bounce back and feel good again.

IMO, there's definitely a major link between foods and mood and it's biological as well as our having association with so-called 'comfort' foods. I've never heard anyone say a celery stalk made them feel good but mention mashed potatoes, buffalo wings, fried chicken....umm, I feel better already!  

[Jinmyo]

Hm. I love roasted or braised celery. The smell of mire poix sweating in olive oil makes me smile.  

[tommy]

braised celery is one of the best things in the world.  particulary tasty in thai and chinese foods.  yum.

[Jinmyo]

True. I didn't realize how delicious celery was until about twelve years ago. I thought it was just an annoying thing in the soup and a very lame crudite. Now, I slice the stalks one way, the hearts another, and always include the leaves. Roasted with huge bread crumbs, good olive oil, some pecorino it's fantastic. Braised in sake or wine, it's superlative. Yay!

[jhlurie]

Unfortunately the premise of this thread gives me a little bit of trouble, but in a different way from Jinmyo.  We've got all kinds of talk about what substances bring us up and down, and those are really two completely different things.  When I want to "relax" I don't feel a pressing need to feel energetic, but on the other hand, when I feel energetic my mood is indeed better.

When I'm energetic, I believe it's because my blood sugar is not low. I feel differently, am more energized and see things in a clearer perspective. I notice when I'm very busy and don't eat, my blood sugar sinks and I get blue when I have no reason to feel down in any way. I then realize 'hey, eat something.' Sure enough, I bounce back and feel good again.

IMO, there's definitely a major link between foods and mood and it's biological as well as our having association with so-called 'comfort' foods. I've never heard anyone say a celery stalk made them feel good but mention mashed potatoes, buffalo wings, fried chicken....umm, I feel better already!  

This is all well and good, but you were linking this to relaxing and going to sleep.  When I want to go to sleep or "relax" the last thing I want are elevated blood sugar levels.

Feeling both emotionally good and "awake" seems to be substantially different from feeling relaxed and sleepy.  I don't think you get to these places with the same food.

[Jinmyo]

Feeling both emotionally good and "awake" seems to be substantially different from feeling relaxed and sleepy.  I don't think you get to these places with the same food.

jhlurie, Spam can do all that and more. Kind of like insomia and sleeping sickness simultaneously. Not pretty.