Food and Mood

"We're sensitive organisms, far more than we may realize. And the holidays can be a mini- trauma for the body and mind. We all have different traditions, but let's imagine a fairly typical holiday: a long drive or a day spent in air-travel purgatory, followed by cookies, the world's saltiest gravy, and drinks out with the old crew. Or maybe your evening is more focused on reminding the kids that Grandma's porcelain clown collection is not toys while you sip rosé from a box, prep potatoes, and consume 30 or 40 black olives."

"When it's time to turn in, your accommodation is some version of a sleeper sofa, air mattress, or your childhood bed. Was it always this lumpy? You toss and turn all night, wake up unrested, and consider a hotel, ultimately choosing family togetherness over sound sleep. It's no wonder the holidays are exhausting, and January feels like it's 17 weeks long."

"So, what's happening under the hood, and what can we do to come through it a little better this year? We dug into the research and found five main categories of neurobiological effects that negatively impact your mood when you start packing in the charcuterie and champagne. We'll dig a little into each of them, and we'll go over some strategies for coming out of the holiday season on a sunnier note. Note: Naturally, how we eat is always influencing our mental health, but the assumption here is that your January-through-October diet is different and more balanced than what you're consuming between Thanksgiving and New Year's."

Holiday routines often include travel, disrupted sleep, and increased intake of sweets, salty foods, and alcohol. These behaviors produce neurobiological effects that harm mood and energy, including blood-sugar swings, sleep loss, inflammation, and altered gut flora. Erratic blood sugar from sugary treats contributes to mood crashes and fatigue. Alcohol impairs sleep quality and promotes inflammation. Simple strategies—eating protein alongside sweets, maintaining consistent sleep, and drinking mindfully—reduce physiological disruptions and soften post-holiday mood and energy declines. Assuming a healthier baseline diet outside the holidays, targeted short-term habits can improve recovery.

Read at Psychology Today