The psychologist spoke about the ability of food to influence emotions

Family psychologist Daria Salnikova said that food acts as a conductor of hormones and emotions.

In an interview with Radio 1 on Monday, February 2, she noted that nutrition affects the hormonal background by about 80%, which directly affects the mental and emotional state of a person. According to her, this connection is especially evident in children: the usual "festive set" of pizza, sugary drinks, fruit and cake causes a sharp spike in glucose and an insulin release, which first leads to hyperactivity, and then to fatigue and moods.

She explained that the same mechanism works in adults, although its effects are often mitigated by chronic diseases or stress. Nevertheless, the pattern remains the same: fast carbohydrates provoke fluctuations in insulin levels, and with it, energy and mood.

The specialist also drew attention to the feedback between mental state and food preferences. According to her, stress does not always cause cravings for sweets — some people at such moments have a desire to eat salty or spicy.

Salnikova stressed that the desire for chips, seeds, small biscuits or sweets is often associated not with hunger, but with an attempt by the brain to calm down. She explained that monotonous actions like chewing or clicking are a form of auto-stimulation that helps to stabilize the internal state. According to her, this habit has its roots in early childhood, when a child uses sucking as a way of self-regulation, while chewing gum or unconsciously eating snacks play a similar role in adults.

In December, nutritionist Mariyat Mukhina, in an interview with RT, stated that in most cases people tend to overeat stress, since food is the easiest way to get hormones of joy. A stressful situation causes the release of adrenaline and cortisol, which lower blood glucose levels. This, in turn, activates the hunger center in the hypothalamus.

In November, Olga Romashina, a clinical psychologist and nutritionist, said that comedies can increase appetite and improve the taste of food. According to her, the taste of food becomes brighter, and the appetite increases when watching comedies, when the psyche is not experiencing stress, notes 360.ru .

At the same time, Medical Xpress magazine wrote that before eating, the human brain is already making assumptions about taste. These expectations significantly affect the perception of taste.

In September, Natalya Naumova, a child psychologist, told NSN that if a child is only happy with food and fast food, this is a reason to consult a specialist. According to her, parents should talk to their children about healthy eating from childhood.

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