How Scent from Foods Affects Your Mood

Modern life is tough. There are deadlines to be met, appointments to be kept and errands to be run. In this hush-hush life, keeping your spirits high is a tough job. The fast paced lifestyle often results in compromised mental health which leads to chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and emotional instability.

The scent of the food you eat can affect your mental health as well as your physical well-being. There are around five million receptor cells in our nose which are linked to the part of the brain (limbic system) governing our emotions, behaviors and long-term memory. This is why the smell that are associated with positive memories are likely to trigger positive emotions like the smell of popcorn reminding you of the movies. When a scent is detected, the smell sensation is relayed to the cerebral cortex only after the deepest parts of our brain have been stimulated. This means that an emotional response is triggered first followed by cognitive recognition.

Latest studies show that mood and food aromas are intrinsically linked, and feeling on top of the world could be as easy as choosing the right meals. More and more research are showing the impact of smell on emotions, memory, stress, pain, concentration and romance. Here are a few aromas to lift your mood:

• Citrus fruits: A recent study has brought to notice that the citrus aromas coming from orange, sweet limes and lemons can reduce anxiety and depression. They remind you of summer and spring season thus making you feel more energetic and youthful. A refreshing glass of lemonade after a hard day at work is just what you need. You can also try burning a lemon scented candle or using a citrus-scented room spray.

• Ginger: Ginger is an energizing scent which is widely used to help with nausea as it triggers the brain signals and processes in the anti-nausea regions of the brain. Research also shows that ginger can reduce depression and anxiety. In a study on depression, the smell of fresh ginger was considered to be one of the most calming fragrances among the choices tested.

• Rosemary oil: This distinct aroma is said to have properties that will help make you more alert and attentive. It stimulates mental activity making it an ideal solution for depression, mental fatigue and forgetfulness. Students often use it during exam times as it increases concentration and helps in studying efficiently. Inhaling just 2 drops of rosemary oil are enough to lift your spirit immediately and eliminate boredom. The oil is used in room fresheners, cosmetics, beauty aids, candles and perfumes.

• Lavender oil: When lavender is inhaled, serotonin - a "feel-good" neurotransmitter - is released in the brain, producing a calming influence in the body. It is ideal to ward off emotions of fear, doubt and worry as well as feelings of anger and irritability. Aroma of lavender oil puts people in a happy mood and leaves them feeling relaxed. Try adding a few drops of lavender to a diffuser and use it in your office or home. Another way to experience the aromatic benefits of lavender oil is to breathe it in during a soothing bathe.

• Vanilla: Vanilla is exceptional when it comes to combating a sad mood. Like lavender, aroma of vanilla acts as anti-depressant, making you feel happy and relaxed. Inhalng the scent of vanilla may also curb your craving for sweet foods helping you in losing or maintaining weight. According to a study, people using vanilla aroma patch significantly reduced their sweet food intake leading to greater weight loss as compared to people using a lemon-scented dummy or no patch. Researchers do not know how the vanilla patches work but they believe the smell affects the brain's chemistry.

• Coffee: A distinct advantage of the aroma of freshly brewed coffee is that it stimulates people and keeps them alert. Now, new research is also shedding some light on how the aroma of coffee might positively affect our brains. According to a study done by scientists at Seoul National University, scent of roasted coffee beans not only reduces stress brought on by sleep deprivation in rats, but also initiates healthy antioxidant activity.

• Peppermint oil: The aroma of peppermint oil vitalizes and refreshes your mind and is especially good for fevers & colds. Inhale peppermint oil before a workout to boost your mood and reduce fatigue.  For stuffy nose from a cold or flu, just put a few drops of peppermint oil in a bowl of warm water along with the same number of drops of eucalyptus oil, and inhale to relieve congestion. Aroma of peppermint oil can also act as a natural pain killer easing stress-induced headaches or migraine and other pains. Just put a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale the aroma.

Apart from aromas, exercise can also improve your mood by boosting your circulation and produces endorphins. Being in the sunshine makes you feel less drowsy and gives you more energy.