Certain diets can affect your mood in certain ways, depending on the type of diet or your eating behaviors. Starvation diets can bring your mood down, while a diet that simply includes a variety of healthy foods has been proven to make you feel happier. Although some diets may not affect your mood at all, most diets do improve your general outlook---as long as you are dieting responsibly and healthily.
Low-Carb vs. Low-Fat
According to ABC News and Health, an Australian research team found that dieters on a low-fat diet were generally happier for a longer amount of time than dieters on a low-carb diet. Several reasons were given, one being that low-carb diets required too much lifestyle change. It was also reasoned that low-carb diets can be essentially seen as starvation diets, as you are depriving your body of its best source of energy, thus leaving you feeling run down.
Blood Sugar
When dieting, it is important to make sure your blood sugar stays at a regular level. Skipping meals or binging on high-sugar or high-carb foods can throw your blood sugar levels out of whack, thus bringing your serotonin levels out of balance. Serotonin is a hormone in the brain that stabilizes your mood and suppresses your appetite, according to MIT researcher Judith Wurtman. With irregular serotonin levels, you are more likely to experience depression and mood swings.
Healthy Foods Promote Healthy Moods
The key to increasing your mood and general outlook while dieting is to eat a wide variety of healthy foods. Choose low-fat options wherever possible and eat plenty of whole grains and fruit instead of white breads and pastries, which contain high amounts of fat and empty carbohydrates. While following a strict diet may help you lose weight at first, it may leave you feeling run down, depressed and more likely to fall back into bad eating habits.
Always Exercise
Daily exercise is an essential part of staying happy while dieting. Even if you're not dieting, exercise can improve your overall mood. Exercise releases endorphins in the brain, which cause you to feel hopeful, happy and energized. Without exercise, you may feel okay but you may also not feel as good as you could. Epigee suggests just 20 minutes a day is all you need to feel better.
