Sometimes after I have eaten a really good meal, I feel happier. I sometimes feel more engergetic too.
I thought that we eat food simply to provide our body with fuel to keep it running.
How can eating food have this effect, and why is it that only certain foods have this effect?
Someone will be along to provide a better answer than me but for now…
We have to ‘want’ to eat in order to do it (like we have to want to have sex in order to reproduce) And we get rewarded, so we want to eat again next time.
I guess I killed your OP (by posting the lame answer). It is an interesting question so it deserves a better attempt.
This is just my theory and not necesarily the right answer - While the Human [body] is hungry it’s mind is probably pre-occupied by that hunger. (my mind is pretty darn-preoccupied right now, but I have to wait til the end of my shift) Once you have eaten, the body has all it’s nutritional resources in place (or the most desired ones, anyway) so it stops telling the brain to be hungry. With that pre-occupation out of the way the brain feels free to think of other things. This might account for the happiness.
I still hope someone comes along and gives a more scientific/informed answer.
Now, when does McDonalds open, and do I feel up to walking there (it’s way out of town)
It’s really quite simple.
Blood sugar.
Ever notice how cranky you get when you’re hungry? Blood sugar levels have a huge effect on our perception of well being. Here’s an excerpt from a website:
“Did you know that one of the reasons for an unexplained mood change could be an out-of-range blood glucose level? When you (or the people around you) sense a change in the way you are feeling or acting, it may be due to high or low blood sugar levels. Test when you’re under stress, to catch high spikes. Remember, stress can make it extra hard to stay in range.
If there’s nothing causing you to feel confused, jumpy, or shaky, your blood sugar level may be out of range. It may also be why you can’t concentrate or why you feel so tired. Either way, testing can tell you if a snack will put you back in range, and in a better mood.”
Do a search on ‘blood sugar mood swings.’