Food and mood ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Summary

This episode of 6 Minute English explores the concept of comfort food and its emotional ties. Hosts Sam and Rob discuss how people often turn to their favorite foods for solace during sad times, despite the temporary relief and potential negative effects. They delve into the scientific research linking food and mood, highlighting the impact of a healthy diet on mental health, as illustrated by the experiences of Chef Danny Edwards and the findings of Professor Felice Jacka. The show also touches on the skepticism faced by those studying the nutrition-mental health connection and concludes with the revelation that the brain, despite its small size, consumes a significant 20% of the body's energy.

Takeaways

• 😋 Comfort food is often consumed to alleviate sadness or a bad mood, but it's typically high in carbs and sugar which can lead to a temporary mood boost followed by a crash.
• 🥪 Sam prefers a peanut butter sandwich as his comfort food, while Rob might opt for a cream chocolate éclair.
• 🧠 The brain is a significant link in the relationship between food and mood, as it uses nutrients and energy supplied by the food we eat to control our emotions.
• 🤔 The brain consumes approximately 20 percent of the body's total energy, despite accounting for only two percent of body weight.
• 🍎 Professor Felice Jacka's research, known as 'The Smile Trial', indicates that improving diet can have a positive impact on mental health, particularly in individuals suffering from depression.
• 🍏 There is a connection between healthy eating, which includes fresh fruits, vegetables, wholegrain cereals, and olive oil, and improved mood and mental health.
• 🍳 Chef Danny Edwards, who has experienced depression, describes how working in a high-stress kitchen environment can suppress appetite and lead to unhealthy, quick food choices.
• 🙄 Initially, Professor Jacka faced skepticism and condescension from her colleagues in the medical field due to a perceived lack of understanding of nutrition's role in mental health.
• 👩‍⚕️ The medical community's skepticism towards the link between diet and mental health may stem from the fact that general practitioners, psychiatrists, and medical specialists receive minimal nutrition training.
• 🚫 The script highlights the issue of emotional eating, suggesting that it is often driven by negative emotions like depression, anxiety, or stress.
• 🍏 The script concludes with a suggestion to opt for healthier alternatives like an apple instead of a donut when feeling down, emphasizing the importance of diet in managing mood.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the 6 Minute English episode?

The main topic discussed in the episode is the connection between what we eat and how we feel, specifically the concept of emotional eating and the impact of diet on mental health.

What is Rob's favorite comfort food mentioned in the script?

Rob's favorite comfort food is a cream chocolate éclair.

What is the definition of comfort food according to the script?

Comfort food is defined as a type of emotional eating where people eat a lot of food because they feel sad, not because they are hungry.

What is the brain's role in the connection between food and mood?

The brain is a vital link in the connection between food and mood as it supplies nutrients and energy, and it controls our emotions.

What percentage of the body's total energy is used by the brain, according to the script?

The brain uses around 20 percent of the body's total energy.

Why do chefs like Danny Edwards often have a bad diet according to the script?

Chefs often have a bad diet because working in a busy kitchen can suppress their appetite, and they have to grab and go for quick food options due to time constraints.

What is the profession of Professor Felice Jacka mentioned in the script?

Professor Felice Jacka is an expert in nutritional psychiatry.

What did Professor Jacka find in her study on the effect of a healthy diet on people suffering from depression?

Professor Jacka found that the patients whose mental health improved were the same patients who had also improved their diet with healthy foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, wholegrain cereals, and olive oil.

What was the reaction of Professor Jacka's colleagues to her research on the link between food and mood?

Professor Jacka's colleagues were skeptical and sometimes patronising, as they were not trained in nutrition and its effects on mental health.

What is the meaning of the slang term 'bananas' as used in the script?

In the script, 'bananas' is a slang term meaning silly or crazy.

What does the phrase 'roll your eyes' describe in the context of the script?

The phrase 'roll your eyes' describes the gesture of turning your eyes upwards to express annoyance, boredom, or disbelief.

What does it mean if someone is 'patronising' you according to the script?

If someone is patronising you, they speak or behave towards you as if you were stupid or unimportant.

Outlines

00:00

🍰 Emotional Eating and the Brain's Role

The first paragraph introduces the topic of emotional eating, where individuals consume food to improve their mood rather than to satisfy hunger. It highlights the commonality of choosing high-carbohydrate and sugary comfort foods that may lead to a temporary mood boost but can result in a subsequent drop in mood. The script mentions an ongoing scientific exploration into the relationship between food and mood, suggesting that healthy eating can positively affect our emotional state. It also presents a question about the brain's energy consumption, hinting at the brain's significant role in the connection between food and mood. The paragraph concludes with an interview snippet from Chef Danny Edwards, who discusses the impact of stress on appetite and the tendency to opt for unhealthy, quick food options in a high-pressure work environment.

05:03

🍏 The Impact of Diet on Mental Health

The second paragraph delves into the research conducted by Professor Felice Jacka, who studied the effects of a healthy diet on individuals with depression. Her findings indicated that an improvement in mental health was closely related to an improvement in diet. However, her ideas faced skepticism from the medical community, which she attributes to the lack of nutrition training among doctors. Despite the initial resistance, her research, known as 'The Smile Trial,' has been replicated and confirmed the link between a healthy diet and improved mood. The paragraph ends with a revelation about the brain's energy consumption, clarifying that the brain uses about 20% of the body's energy, emphasizing its importance in emotional regulation. The script concludes with a recap of the vocabulary related to emotional eating and an invitation to join future episodes of 6 Minute English for more discussions and vocabulary.

Keywords

💡Comfort food

Comfort food refers to a type of food that provides a sense of solace or pleasure, especially in times of emotional distress. In the video, it is mentioned as a form of emotional eating where people consume certain foods to alleviate sadness or improve their mood, rather than out of hunger. The script uses the example of Rob preferring a peanut butter sandwich and Sam a cream chocolate éclair when they feel down.

💡Emotional eating

Emotional eating is the act of consuming food in response to emotions rather than physical hunger. It is a coping mechanism for feelings such as sadness, stress, or anxiety. The video discusses this concept in the context of comfort food, highlighting that it often leads to the consumption of high-carbohydrate and sugary foods which may provide temporary relief but can worsen mood in the long term.

💡Nutrients

Nutrients are substances that provide nourishment essential for the growth and maintenance of life. In the script, the role of nutrients is discussed in relation to the brain's function and its control over our emotions, suggesting that the food we eat supplies the brain with necessary energy and nutrients that can influence our mood.

💡Depression

Depression is a common mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. The video mentions depression as one of the emotional states that can lead to emotional eating. Chef Danny Edwards, who has experienced depression, is cited as an example of how working in a high-stress environment can suppress appetite and lead to unhealthy eating habits.

💡Appetite

Appetite refers to the desire to eat food and is a natural physiological process indicating the body's need for nourishment. In the context of the video, appetite is discussed in relation to how stress can suppress it, as illustrated by Chef Danny Edwards' experience in a busy kitchen environment where he and others may not feel like eating due to the pressures of work.

💡Nutritional psychiatry

Nutritional psychiatry is an emerging field that explores the relationship between nutrition and mental health. Professor Felice Jacka, mentioned in the script, is an expert in this field and has conducted studies on the effects of a healthy diet on individuals suffering from depression, finding a positive correlation between improved diet and better mental health.

💡The Smile Trial

The Smile Trial is a groundbreaking study led by Professor Felice Jacka that investigates the link between diet and mental health. The video highlights this research as evidence supporting the idea that eating well can improve mood and mental well-being, despite initial skepticism from the medical community.

💡Skepticism

Skepticism refers to an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity, particularly in relation to claims or beliefs. In the script, skepticism is used to describe the reaction of Professor Jacka's colleagues to her research on nutritional psychiatry, indicating their initial disbelief in the connection between diet and mental health.

💡Patronizing

To patronize someone means to adopt a condescending or high-handed attitude towards them, often by treating them as if they are less intelligent or capable. In the video, Professor Jacka describes how some of her colleagues were patronizing towards her, reflecting their lack of understanding or acceptance of the importance of nutrition in mental health.

💡Brain

The brain is the central organ of the nervous system, responsible for controlling most of the body's functions and interpreting information from the environment. The video script mentions the brain's significant energy consumption, using 20 percent of the body's total energy, and its role as a vital link between food intake and mood regulation.

💡Grab and go

The phrase 'grab and go' describes the act of quickly taking something, often food, when there is not much time available. In the context of the video, it is used to illustrate the eating habits of individuals like Chef Danny Edwards, who, due to the fast-paced nature of his work, often resort to consuming quick, less healthy options.

Highlights

Introduction to comfort food and its connection to emotional eating.

Sam's favorite comfort food is a peanut butter sandwich.

Rob's favorite comfort food is a cream chocolate éclair.

Comfort food is often high in carbohydrates and sugar, leading to feeling worse after consumption.

Scientific research is growing on the connection between food and mood.

The brain uses about 20 percent of the body's energy, highlighting its importance in the food-mood connection.

Emotional eating can be caused by depression, anxiety, or stress.

Chef Danny Edwards shares his experience with stress and appetite suppression in a busy kitchen.

Danny often resorts to 'grab and go' eating due to lack of time, which is not healthy.

Professor Felice Jacka studied the effect of healthy diets on depression, finding improved mental health in those who improved their diet.

Professor Jacka's research faced skepticism from other doctors due to their lack of nutrition training.

The 'Smile Trial' by Professor Jacka shows a clear link between eating well and feeling good.

The program encourages choosing healthy foods like apples over donuts when feeling down.

Explanation of key vocabulary: emotional eating, appetite, grab and go, bananas, eye-rolling, and patronizing.

Conclusion and reminder to join for more discussions and vocabulary in future episodes.

Transcripts

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from

BBC Learning English. I’m Sam.

And I’m Rob.

When someone feels sad or in a bad mood,

they often try to feel better by eating their favourite food…

I usually go for a peanut butter sandwich myself.

Do you have a favourite comfort food, Rob?

Hmm, maybe a cream chocolate éclair…

Comfort food is a type of emotional eating –

eating lots of food because we feel sad, not

because we’re hungry. But unfortunately, most

comfort food is high in carbohydrates and sugar

and, after a few minutes, it leaves us feeling even

worse than before.

Today, scientific research into the relationship

between what we eat and how we feel is growing.

In this programme we’ll be investigating the

connection between our food and our mood.

We’ll hear how healthy eating makes us feel

better, and of course, we’ll be learning some

new vocabulary as well.

Great! But first I have a question for you, Sam

People who link what we eat with how we

feel make a simple argument: the food you

eat supplies nutrients and energy to the brain,

and the brain controls our emotions.

Now, that might sound simplistic, but the brain is a

vital link in the connection between food and

our mood. So, Sam, my question is: how much

of the body’s total energy is used up by the brain? Is it:

a) 10 percent, b) 20 percent, or c) 30 percent?

Hmmm, that's a good question. I’ll say it’s a) 10 percent.

Right. Well, I’ll reveal the answer later

in the programme. Emotional eating is

often caused by feelings of depression,

anxiety or stress. Chef Danny Edwards,

who has suffered with depression, works

in one of the most stressful places imaginable -

a busy restaurant kitchen. BBC World Service

programme, The Food Chain, asked Danny

about his eating habits at work:

Actually, when you’re working in a kitchen

environment for long periods, your appetite

can become suppressed because you sometimes

don't want to eat, or you don't feel like you can

stop and eat, and all of that. So, it very often is

grabbing something on the go which obviously,

as we know, is not great for us… So you go for something

that’s quick, so hence why a lot of chefs have quite a bad diet.

Even though he’s surrounded by food, Danny

says that working under stress actually decreases

his appetite – the feeling that you want to eat food.

In a busy kitchen there’s no time for a sit-down meal,

so Danny has to grab and go – take something quickly

because he doesn’t have much time, although

he knows this isn’t very healthy.

So when even chefs have a difficult relationship

with food, what about the rest of us? Professor Felice Jacka,

is an expert in nutritional psychiatry. She studied the effect of

eating a healthy diet – food such as fresh fruit and

vegetables, wholegrain cereals, and olive oil – on people

suffering depression. Professor Jacka found that the patients

whose mental health improved were the same patients who

had also improved their diet.

But Professor Jacka’s ideas were not

accepted by everyone. Here, she explains to

Jordan Dunbar, presenter of BBC World Service’s,

The Food Chain, about the opposition her study

faced from other doctors:

So I proposed to do this for my PhD study, and everyone

thought I was a bit bananas, you know, and there was quite a

bit of, I guess, eye rolling maybe. I'm not surprised by that

because the discipline of psychiatry

was very medication and brain focused. What did people say

in the field? Were they sceptical? Oh, hugely sceptical

and sometimes very patronising. But this again comes from the

fact that general practitioners, psychiatrists, medical specialists

get almost no nutrition training through all those years of study.

When Professor Jacka investigated the link between food and

mood, her colleagues thought she was bananas – a slang

word meaning silly or crazy. They rolled their eyes – a phrase

which describes the gesture of turning your eyes upwards to

express annoyance, boredom or disbelief.

Other colleagues were patronising – they behaved towards her

as if she were stupid or unimportant. Professor Jacka thinks

this is because most doctors have little or no training about

nutrition and the effect of food on mental health. But her

ground-breaking research, named ‘The Smile Trial’, has been

successfully repeated elsewhere, clearly showing the link

between eating well and feeling good.

So, the next time you’re feeling down and your brain is calling

out for a donut, you might be better eating an apple instead!

And speaking of brains, Sam, it’s time to

reveal the answer to my question.

Yes, you asked me how much of the body’s energy

is used up by the brain. And I guessed it was ten percent…

Well, I’m afraid you are wrong. In fact, around

20 percent of the body’s energy goes to feeding the brain,

even though it only makes up two percent of our total body

weight. OK, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learned from our

discussion about emotional eating - that's eating too much food

because of how you feel, not because you’re hungry.

Appetite is the desire to eat food.

If you grab and go, you take something quickly

because you don’t have much time. Calling someone bananas is

slang for silly or crazy. If you roll your eyes,

you move your eyes upwards to show you feel annoyed, bored or

don’t believe what someone is telling you. And finally, if

someone is patronising you, they speak or behave towards you

as if you were stupid or unimportant.

That's the end of our programme. Don’t forget to join us

again soon for more topical discussion and useful vocabulary

here at 6 Minute English. Bye, everyone!

Bye!