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The food that we consume determines our health, weight, shape and so forth. The cells of our body absorb the constituents of the food thus, depending on what we eat; the cells can be affected in any number of different ways. To determine the role in which food affects human behaviour scientists have been concentrating on neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters carry the brain’s messages from cell to cell and they control many of our bodily functions including our thoughts, feelings and behavioural patterns and regulate our mood and appetite. There are several different kinds of neurotransmitter but the ones that are mostly affected and are sensitive to the connection between diet and mood are serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.

- Serotonin stimulates feelings of optimism, relaxation and an overall general sense of well being. This neurotransmitter also provides us with the ability to focus and concentrate. High levels of serotonin can make you feel tired and lethargic but this is usually dependent on the time of day. Additionally, low levels of serotonin can cause a depressed mood, difficulty in sleeping, low concentration levels and increased craving for food.

- Dopamine and Norepinephrine stimulate feelings of excitement, alertness, action and mental sharpness. High levels of these neurotransmitters causes a depressed mood, lethargy and fatigue and poor concentration whilst low levels result in anxiety and agitation.

The brain creates these neurotransmitters from amino acids, which are responsible for building protein. There are two types of amino acids that stimulate the link between mood and food, and are called tryptophan and tyrosine. Serotonin is derived from tryptophan whilst tyrosine is responsible for creating dopamine and norepinephrine.

Eating protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, beans, nuts and soya products regulates the level of tyrosine in the brain. Scientists claim that, by eating a mere 3-4 ounces of foods high in protein, a sufficient level of dopamine and norepinephrine will be produced to make one feel energised, more alert and assertive.