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Sarah mentioned yesterday that there are some healthy foods that work as mood elevators, but those foods aren't necessarily what people turn to when they're feeling low. A new study calculated that people who are sad "eat larger amounts of foods they consider tasty, but unhealthy."
The trial was put on by researchers at the University of Mississippi, who invited participants to watch either a tearful romance, Love Story, or a romantic comedy, Sweet Home Alabama, and monitored the amount of buttered, salted popcorn they ate. Unhappy viewers, those watching Love Story, are 28 percent more than their Reese Witherspoon-watching counterparts. A second experiment drove the point even further home by demonstrating that students reading about a tragedy (accidental deaths caused by a fire, not the Greek sort) were 4 times more likely to reach for M&Ms than raisins when both were set out as options.
It is certainly something to keep in mind the next time you're heading to the theater and are wondering whether to get popcorn and candy or skip the snack bar altogether.
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1-09-2007 @2:57PM T. Allen said... I can understand the logic applied in the popcorn trials, but you lost me when the choice was M&M's vs. raisins. Under ANY circumstance, sad or happy, I would wager that the M&M's would be the more popular choice!! Raisins are just not that appetizing a snack when compared to chocolate!!
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1-09-2007 @3:17PM Dmnkly said... I dunno. If I were forced to watch Sweet Home Alabama, I'd probably lose my appetite, too.
(sorry)
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1-10-2007 @4:38PM Heather said... I always find it interesting that studies are performed to show what people already know to be true through common sense. Did any of us really need a study to tell us that sad stories make us head for chocolate? But, I also agree with T. Allen. To make it a fair study, the opposing choice should be something of as similar popularity to M&M's as possible and raisins don't seem to be a logical choice.
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1-13-2007 @8:19PM gene mccauley said... how about a comprise.....and choose chocolate covered raisins.......!!!!!!1
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1-13-2007 @8:47PM Robert Jones said... Comfort food. When I am stressed I eat things that my mother made for me as a child. Poached eggs on toast, chicken noodle soup, or things that my fiancee' would cook such as spagetti. I am a male, and have found that doing the cooking when I am stressed and making food that all like calms me down. Food from my childhood, not bad food, or greasy, just stuff mom used to make is the best remedy.
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1-13-2007 @8:55PM Holly said... When I'm feeling sad I find myself wanting Garlic Bread. Then I found out garlic helps with your moods. So I guess my body was telling me something.
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1-13-2007 @8:58PM Tammie said... Chocolate ice cream!!! Rocky road, Dutch chocolate, mint chocolate chip..... any flavor with chocolate in it!! I love a pint of Blue Bell Dutch chocolate when I'm feeling down.
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1-13-2007 @9:05PM munky said... Salt and vinegar potato chips cure the blues.
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1-24-2007 @7:08PM Leslie said... I must say that watching "Love Story" would just be too sad, and would make me too upset to eat much of anything. Definitely an appetite suppressant there...However, I also agree that making things from my childhood also is a comfort to me, whether they were unhealthy or healthy. It is a comfort just making them, and I am glad that my kids like when I make certain "comfort" foods for them now.....what a great remedy for all of us!
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1-13-2007 @9:26PM Gia said... When I am sad I can't eat. I mean sad sad, like heartbroken. My brain sends a signal to the hunger control gland and my appetite totally disappears. After a sad break up I lost 12 pounds in 2 weeks, every dieters dream. WHen I am anxious though, I tend to eat mindlessly.
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1-13-2007 @9:26PM Audrey Booth said... When I'm feeling blue or depressed or stressed, I make myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and I make sure I bring the jar of peanut butter and a knife with me just in case the sandwich isn't enough. I eat the peanutbutter right off the knife. Don't try this at home, I happen to be an expert in doing this, an if by any chance I am out of bread, then I reach for the graham crackers, they're good too
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1-13-2007 @9:35PM Dana said... I eat chocolate all the time -- happy or sad. So how will I know the difference? :)
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1-13-2007 @9:38PM THE TRUTH said... I EAT BOXES AND BOXES OF OREO AND DING DONGS AND IM PERFECTLY HAPPY! JUST BECAUSE I WEIGH 600 LBS, DOSNT MEAN I DONT LIKE SNACKS!!!
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1-13-2007 @9:40PM cheezecakequeen said... this theory would explain why i've eaten tons of junk before all seven of my surgeries.
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1-13-2007 @9:40PM THE TRUTH said... I HEARD EATING BLOW FISH HELPS A SH**** MOOD!LOL!
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1-13-2007 @9:51PM cathy said... i agree with #11. when i am sad or stressed, i can't eat anything. besides that, chocolate is the best thing to help your mood. it's also great for headaches.....i think i feel one coming on now.....
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1-13-2007 @9:51PM Jamie said... I tend to snack more during a scary movie. It seems to take the edge off the nervous tension.
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1-13-2007 @9:53PM Yenny said... It is far more to difficult to perform highly intellectual/academic tasks all day long than it is to do something physical. I tend to eat more when my mind is active than when my body is, and I crave foods high in fat, sugar, and protein. The brain needs these foods to continue to function at a high level, otherwise it shuts down. That is why many people in academia tend to be a little overweight, but, nevertheless, we're healthy and happy with our lives full of content matter (P.S. Many models have no brains. They are too busy working out).
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1-13-2007 @9:54PM Marge said... Uh, first let me just say that the movie "Love Story" was not sad!! It was irritating! Ali McGraw was not likeable and Ryan O'Neal was kind of a dumb guy. Seriously, who would actually thing that movie was entertaining these days? I'd rather watch Sweet Home Alabama, ha. But for the record, all things BREAD are just the ticket when I'm sad. That includes bagels (chocolate chip....)toast, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, french bagettes with butter
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1-13-2007 @10:05PM Tania said... Unlike other people....When I'm sad i don't eat.
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