Study Spotlight: The Mood Diet

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Updated on April 3, 2014

Were you angered by traffic this morning or awakened abruptly? Have you been feeling blue with the onset of winter or charged by the vigor of the holiday season? Would you describe your mood lately as generally optimistic and happy? Or are you plagued by an enigmatic anxiety or erratic energy? Has depression been a problem for you? Do you find yourself easily annoyed or frustrated?

We were as surprised as anyone when we read the latest study following the seeming success of so-called “mood eating” and its physiological response. The research, a collaborative endeavor of the Institute of Nutrition and Physiological Function and the Center for Complementary Nutrition Therapy, followed 17 participants for 5 weeks. Dr. Stephen Quatschen, head of the study, says subjects experienced emotional release and corresponding physiological changes from particular foods. It seems Quatschen and his associates have identified varieties of foods that appear to temporarily counter or enhance several common emotional moods. Food characteristics such as texture, smell, shape and color strongly figured into subjects’ responses.

Angry subjects, for example, who were given highly spiced foods experienced elevated tension and hostility as indicated by self-report, expert observation and a number of biochemical markers. However, when these same subjects were offered soft, bland foods like jumbo marshmallows, mashed potatoes and grilled cheese sandwiches, they exhibited significantly less frustration and antagonism. Likewise, non-clinically depressed patients showed a negative reaction to the bland texture and colors of liver and onions and guacamole and to the laboriously crunchy texture of Grape Nuts cereal. However, they responded positively to the colorful and lightly stimulating texture of Knox blocks, Cheetos, and Trix cereal. And Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes made participants feel “great”.

On the opposite end of subjects’ experience, those who described themselves as cheerful showed emotional and physiological indications of increased happiness from the bold colors and flavors of clementines and cheese ball spread as well as to warm and flaky food items like Toaster Strudel. In Quatschen’s words, “We’re finding that food can actually serve as an effective antidote to unpleasant moods and a boost to positive mental states. It gives a whole new meaning to the old adage ‘You are what you eat.’”

But could marshmallows really be the answer to our society’s road rage problem? Dr. Quatschen resists such dramatic assumptions, saying further study is needed to support and clarify his team’s findings. Nonetheless, he believes the research opens up a new avenue for conversation among nutritionists and those in the mental health field. “I think the associations our study revealed are strong enough for a new conversation to begin surrounding the emotional dimension of diet. Subjects in our study showed clear food preferences that resulted in temporary visible reprieve from negative emotional symptoms. We have the opportunity to work with the food industry to fully explore the potential of this self-treatment option.” He went on to add, “the key to effective weight loss could be choosing foods based on how you feel in the moment.”

Dr. Quatschen’s team plans to share their research with a number of medical, business and community organizations in the next year. They will publish their findings in the upcoming issue of Nutrition, Culture and Physiology. The journal is sponsored by a consortium of leading bioengineering and supermarket firms in the U.S. The team’s study was funded by the American Council of Food Processing.

(To take full advantage of these surprising new findings, don’t underestimate the importance of proper emotional assessment. Do you need help correctly identifying your mood for the day? Now you can accurately determine your emotional state with the help of the latest technology available for a limited time from an affiliate company, the Center for Emotive Merchandise. This state-of-the-art device gauges pertinent biomarkers such as body temperature to give you a scientific analysis of your emotional mood. Just place the ring device on your finger, and observe the change in our revolutionary mood stone’s color. Results are available in a matter of seconds. It’s an attractive way to follow your latest emotional aura and make the best diet choices based on your current vibe. Order yours for the incredibly low price of $19.99.)

Interested in more cutting edge diet research? Check out the truly sensational studies and story behind the latest bombshell to hit the nutrition world: the Hair Colour Diet. Thanks to reader Methuselah for his excellent reporting on this dramatic new development. Also, check out Methuselah’s coverage on how a high-carb, grain-based diet could be the secret to longevity. We’ll be sure to keep you posted on these and other incredible nutritional studies.

Are you shaken by this new revelation? Does the world suddenly make more sense to you? Are you mysteriously drawn to an appropriate mood food as we speak? We want to hear your thoughts on the mood diet movement and other ground-breaking diet trends!