Food and Mood, Extra Practice (Optional)

FOOD AND MOOD, EXTRA PRACTICE

A. Yes or No? Answer the following questions only with Yes or No.

Do we often eat because we are calm or happy?
Does food change our brain chemistry?
Do these changes influence our mood?
Are there foods that can make us feel better?
Are there foods that can make us feel worse?
Do nutrition experts say that food doesn’t affect the way we feel?

B. The following foods and drinks are here in alphabetical order. Put them in the right place below.
Brazil nut - bread – chicken – chocolate - coffee – lean meat - pasta - rice – seafood – sweet desserts - whole grains



FOR STRESS
GOOD:
Reason?
BAD:
Reason?
FOR DEPRESSION:
GOOD:
Reason?
BAD:
Reason?






ANSWERS
A.
Do we often eat because we are calm or happy? No. The opposite.
Does food change our brain chemistry? Yes.
Do these changes influence our mood? Yes.
Are there foods that can make us feel better? Yes.
Are there foods that can make us feel worse? Yes.
Do nutrition experts say that food doesn’t affect the way we feel? No. The opposite.

B.

FOR STRESS
GOOD: Bread, rice, pasta.
Reason? High in carbohydrates. They favor the release of serotonin, which makes you feel better.
BAD: Coffee.
Reason? Too much coffee makes even more you anxious and irritable.
FOR DEPRESSION:
GOOD: lean meat, chicken, seafood, whole grains, Brazil nut.
Reason? These foods have a lot of selenium, a mineral that helps you feel more relaxed and happy.
BAD: Chocolate. Sweet desserts.
Reason? They may make you feel good at first, but an hour later you’ll feel worse.