Carb comfort
Comfort foods get a bad rap because they tend to be high calorie, high carb and not very healthy. But we all need comfort from time to time, both psychologically and physically, and food can be an effective way to get it.
Psychological comfort
Food can change our moods in a number of ways, some of which have been shown in studies of brain imaging biochemistry.
Feel-good food
Triggers the reward and pleasure centers in the brain !Pseudo-social eating
Evokes the feelings of previous social interactionsNostalgic foods
Brings back fond memories, often of childhood or loved onesIndulgence foods
Feels like a special, or naughty, treat because it's not the norm
! The trouble with feel-good food is that while studies show it can provide relief by altering the mood, the same mechanism could also lead to addiction, which is mediated through the same pathways in the brain.
Physical comfort
All bodily processes take energy, including eating and digestion, which uses about 10% of our energy. The easiest way for the body to fuel its needs is from food and the easier food is to digest, the less energy is "wasted" on the digestion process itself.
When you're under physical strain, due to illness for example, the body needs as much energy as possible for other processes and/or needs to conserve energy. Depending on the nature of the stress, the body may also need to protect muscle mass. All this means that it is actually helpful to eat foods that are quicker and easier to digest, even though they may be less nutritious.
When you're ill, your body needs its blood sugar to come in as easily as possible
Fun and comfort have a role to play in your loving relationship with food. But most of our go-to comforts come with significant health warnings. Aside from the question of nutrition, studies show a strong connection between all kinds of comfort eating and guilt. Not a feeling that aligns well with love!
♡ Break the guilt cycle. Stop thinking of it as 'cheat' meals or foods. Make a conscious choice about what you want to eat when and how much, and call it "fun food".
Physically, the after effects of a carb binge are a downer too. We tend to crash most after eating food that is super easy to digest. It's because the body's sugar control system is a bit of a clean freak. When a burst of sugar comes in, it (insulin) cleans it all up and packs it away - usually as fat - and stays on alert for more incoming. That means that after the food fest, we tend to feel drained and even a little depressed.
♡ Swap out the worst bad boys without sacrifice. We're kissing all the frogs for you, and boy are there many! Check out our Tried, Tested and Investigated to find your match made in heaven. And find comfort in our all-swapped-out breads & bakes and soups, stews and pastas recipes.
