The foods we eat have measurable effects on the body’s performance, they may prove to have an even more critical influence on how the brain handles its tasks. The idea that the right foods, or the natural neurochemicals they contain, can enhance mental capabilities such as by defusing stress. (Blun 2)

In the 1970’s, Dr. Richard Wurtman of MIT and his graduate student, John Ferstrom, discovered that the nutrient composition of a meal affects the brain’s neurotransmitters, substances that control nerve impulses. They also found in rats, that the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin had great involvement with food intake. Dr. Wurtman’s wife, Judith, later found that the carbohydrate content of a meal might influence dopamine and serotonin synthesis. Dopamine is related with alertness; it is used for fast reflexes, “mental energy,” and to assist in problem solving. Serotonin hel

Another misconception about carbohydrates is the fat content and the amount of weight gained when these types of foods are consumed; this is, in fact, a misconception. “Despite carbohydrates’ undeserved reputation as being fattening, carbohydrates provide only four calories per gram.” (Edelson 71) Only when these foods are added to other substances, such as oil when being fried to make breading on certain types of food, or eaten in large quantities that the body can not readily use, do they get stored in the body as fat. Overeating usually is not a problem with carbohydrates due to the fact that they tend to be filling, so only small amounts may be eaten in a sitting. In addition, serotonins found in carbohydrates have been proven to suppress appetites.

Dr. Judith Wurtman of MIT found that most fruits and vegetable have no effect on the amount of stress a person might obtain when consumed. She categorizes these types of food as “stress neutrals.”(Matson 1) The reason these foods do not provide stress relief is that they do not produce dopamine or serotonin the way starchy, complex carbohydrates

ps a person deal with stress. “When the brain uses serotonin, feelings of stress and anxiety are replaced by a sense of

According to Blun, “a diet that draws heavily on fatty foods may be a major cause of depression and aggression in North America.”(1) These types of foods are hardest to digest and may lead to stress due to lack of nutrient absorption and retention. This struggle for digestion induces heartburn and indigestion, which can cause physical stress. During stress, fatty foods, which are difficult to digest any time, should be avoided. Hot or spicy foods may also cause problems during times of stress. In addition, lack of needed, healthy food leads to nutrient deficiency, which according to Winters, is another form of physical stress. Foods high in fat-content such as certain meats, not only lead to stress, but other health problems such as high bloo

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Approximate Word count = 1368
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)