News
27 November, 2024
A moody diet needs balance
While Australians may know that comfort food might not be the best mood booster, a new survey has revealed they aren’t taking steps to adjust their diets accordingly.
A new survey from MyFitnessPal, the leading global food and nutrition tracking app, has revealed that while 64 per cent of Australians notice mood changes after eating certain foods, 49 per cent are not making dietary adjustments to improve their mood and wellbeing.
Melissa Jaeger, RD, Head of Nutrition for MyFitnessPal, emphasized the connection between nutrient-dense foods, balanced diets, and mental health.
"Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fiber-rich grains is key to supporting our overall health and wellbeing," she said.
The survey identified the foods most likely to negatively impact mood and energy: alcohol (88 per cent), fast food (86 per cent), and sugar (76 per cent).
Emotional states like stress (47 per cent), sadness (43 per cent), and being upset (42 per cent) often lead to overeating.
Conversely, feelings of exhaustion (45 per cent), anger (43 per cent), and being upset (37 per cent) tend to reduce appetite.
These findings align with insights from a new global white paper, Food & Mood, by MyFitnessPal and Dr. Jenny L. Taitz, Psy.D.
The analysis discusses how food tracking can help people understand the relationship between mood and food choices, using this knowledge to make thoughtful dietary decisions.
