Mood Swings and Nutrition

Many people suffer from mood swings. They commonly occur when there is a chemical imbalance in the brain. These chemicals are known to be neurotransmitter. They cause a person to experience a variety of emotions such as happiness, stress, fear, and depression. The mood swings occur when the neurotransmitters are imbalanced. Women experience hormonal mood swings during or after pregnancy, or during their menstrual cycles. Teenagers experience mood swings during hormonal changes in puberty.

According to "The Health Center" at thehealthcenter.info, mood swings can take a person on an emotional roller coaster within a day. One can start the day happy and cheerful. By midday one feels depressed and aggravated easily. Then one becomes distant and unsociable. Later in the evening one's spirits became uplifted.

These mood swings can affect ones relationship with friends, family, and co-workers. There is treatment for mood swings, which comes in the form of medication and therapy. However, it can also be treated with nutrition, such as food and vitamin supplements.

Neurotransmitters are a combination of serotnin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, essential chemicals for the brain. They are needed for the senses of calming, relaxation, alertness, and increased energy. They can stabilizes ones behavior. Carbohydrates and proteins, according Dr. Jill Fleming, author of "Food-Mood Connection" school-for-champoins.com, are needed to create these needed chemicals. According to Flemings research, people who eat a balanced diet that includes carbs and protein, suffer from fewer mood swings than people who have a poor diet.

To maintain a chemical balance a person should eat three complete meals each day. The meals should be a combination of fruits, bread, grains, and vegetables( good carbs), and lean meat, chicken, fish, nuts soy products, eggs and dairy products (good proteins). Before and after lunch one should have a small snack of a combination of fruit, bread, and cheese.

In the case of pregnant women, they must share their nutrients with their developing fetus. As the baby grows in its mother's body it takes nutrients causing the mother to be deficient. So a pregnant woman should double her intake of food. To get enough for herself and her unborn child.

As for teenagers, they should likewise eat a well balanced diet of carbs and proteins.

People trouble with mood swings should limit or completely cut sugar, caffeine, alcohol from their diet. They should also avoid junk food and processed food.

Vitamins
Vitamins B6, B1, B5, B9, and B12 are good nutritional supplements to take to treat mood swings. In a research report by Dr. Bach Team titled "A B Vitamin For Every Sign Of Depression" (listed on blog.mitamins.com), vitamin Bs are needed components in the production of neurotransmitter, and the vitamins work together to balance these chemicals in the brain. A combination of these vitamins in one pill can be effective.

A person's personality can be affected by his or her nutrition. If you are troubled with mood swings, examine your diet to see if you are getting the appropriate nutrients. If your mood swings are severe, it would be wise to consult a doctor.