The Energy Frame: FOOD
There is a drug each and every one of us takes every day that affects our mental alertness, our emotional stability, and our overall physical well-being. It's a drug that causes us to experience sudden mood swings and to be alternately hyperactive and exhausted. It's a drug that can be found in every home, every day of the year. That drug is food.
There is no perfect diet for everyone, and you should always consult a physician or nutritionist before making changes in the way you eat. But scientists now know that the particular foods we eat cause changes in the chemicals in our brains, which in turn affect energy levels and mood. Dr. Judith Wurtman of McLean Hospital (a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital) and Dr. Richard Wurtman of MIT were pioneers in studying the effects of food on mood and energy.
They discovered that food affects two key neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the body. One is dopamine, which improves energy and alertness. An amino acid called tyrosine, found in protein, is the building block of dopamine. So eating protein actually helps us remain alert and energized. The second key neurotransmitter is serotonin. Serotonin has a calming effect and helps us feel relaxed and more in control. An amino acid called tryptophan, found in carbohydrates, is the building block of serotonin. Too many carbohydrates, and we become so calm, we fall asleep.
The Food Frame
The idea is to find the balance, and find the way of eating that is best for you. No food is intrinsically good or bad. Its value depends on how the food affects you. But there are certain common sense choices we can make:
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Many people treat their bodies as if they were rented from Hertz. They are something they are using to get around in, but nothing they genuinely care about understanding.
—Chungliang Al Huang,
philosopher and tai chi master
EAN: 2147483647
Pages: 207