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Happy Gut, Happy Life?

It feels that now more than ever, there is a better understanding of food as a source of fuel and how it can improve our daily lives. The health and wellbeing industry is thriving on producing fitness food and the word ‘protein’ is having its PR hay day. But what does it really mean when we say you are what you eat?


Serotonin, also known as the happy hormone, is predominantly produced in your gut, which means that what you eat really can have an effect on how you feel. The gut and the brain are intrinsically linked through the vagus nerve, which is why when you are stressed you may experience a stomach ache or if you are nervous you find you feel nauseous! This research found in recent years suggests that mental wellbeing is explicitly linked to what you eat and drink.


The instant satisfaction eating a ‘cheat meal’ is undermined by the almost-immediate feeling afterwards, where it all comes crashing down and you inevitably feel worse off. There is no doubt that it’s obvious that you will feel better after eating a homemade, nutritious meal than something from a greasy fast-food joint. This is because certain foods produce an amino acid known as tryptophan, which actually helps the body to produce more serotonin. You cannot produce tryptophan naturally in the body, so it’s imperative that your diet includes this! Foods that include beneficial probiotic bacteria and live cultures, such as yoghurt, kimchi, sauerkraut and kombucha are fantastic to include in your diet regularly.


Other sources of tryptophan come from foods containing protein (there’s that word again!), like:
• Salmon
• Nuts and Seeds
• Soya
• Eggs
• Spinach
• Lean Poultry such as Turkey and Chicken


Interestingly, Medical News Today notes that “Foods that contain tryptophan are most effective if eaten alongside carbohydrates” so be sure to include this essential energy source in your diet too. You can read more about this whole article here.


Eden have a full range of menus, from Breakfasts and Sandwich Lunches through to Street Food and Canapes. Sustainability is ingrained in our ethos and this streams through to the way we make our food, opting to only fry 1-2 items per season, having a ‘no added salt’ policy and including a vast variety of nutritious foods (including all of those above!). Do check them out and if you’re looking for a healthy and wholesome catering solution then get in touch – we would be happy to discuss this more with you! 😊

Category: General News

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Posted: 12/02/2020

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