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Eating eggs will make you a nicer person

<p>A study has found that eating eggs activates serotonin – the happy hormone. And furthermore, it can turn you into, well, a good egg as it might also activate your charity instinct.</p> <p>In an unusual study, researchers decided to find out how much more charitable we become after eating eggs.</p> <p>The researchers already knew that serotonin not only helps to maintain mood balance and our sense of happiness but it’s also associated with social behaviour – acts of generosity and kindness, for instance.</p> <p>Those behind the study also knew that an amino acid, called tryptophan (TRP) – found in whole eggs, poultry, beans, oats, fish, cheese, tofu, seeds and nuts – converts into serotonin in the body.</p> <p>The researchers from Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition in The Netherlands have now found out that eating foods full of tryptophan can increase our willingness to give to charity by as much as double. </p> <p>“For the first time, we investigated whether the administration of a compound contained in food such as fish, eggs, soy and milk, can promote charitable donating,” said the Dutch authors.</p> <p>“Our study is the first demonstration that charitable donating can be enhanced by serotonin-related food supplements.”</p> <p>The team behind the study took 32 healthy students and gave half the group a placebo and the other half the equivalent TRP of three eggs. </p> <p>All participants were instructed not to eat or drink anything other than water the night before the experiment mornings. They were also required to refrain from alcohol or drug use for the duration of the study's period.</p> <p>The students were given $15 each for their participation in the study and were asked whether they would like to leave any of their reward to charity. </p> <p>Those who took the TRP donated, on average, double the amount donated by the placebo participants. </p> <p>The study was admittedly small and the authors acknowledged that more research was needed to see if the results could be replicated. </p> <p>Their results however, support the idea that “you are what you eat”, they said.</p> <p>“[This is] the idea that the food one eats has a bearing on one's state of mind,” the authors concluded.</p> <p>“The food we eat may thus act as a cognitive enhancer that modulates the way we deal with the ‘social’ world.”</p>

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5 foods to boost your serotonin levels and feel happier

<p>Serotonin is one of those tricky little chemicals inside your body that does all kinds of things for you while you go about your daily life. Serotonin is found mainly in the brain, bowels, and blood platelets, and the roles it plays are diverse and fascinating. For example, in your bowels, it helps to control your bowel movements and function, while in your brain, serotonin is considered something of a natural mood stabiliser.</p> <p>Serotonin (or, for those of you with a penchant for hard core science terms, 5-hydroxytryptamine) is believed to regulate levels of anxiety, happiness, and mood, with low levels associated with depression. Your body creates serotonin for you by using the amino acid tryptophan, which is found in many common dietary elements. So, if you’re feeling somewhat down, and want to cheer yourself up, you could always try boosting your body’s serotonin levels with your next meal.</p> <p>We’ve put together a list of serotonin-boosting foods to enhance your mood. It’s important to remember, though, that eating carbohydrates is an important part of this equation. Carbs increase insulin levels, which helps your cells absorb amino acids, but leaves the tryptophan to (hopefully) move from your blood to your brain.</p> <p><strong>1. Dark chocolate</strong></p> <p>Chocolate containing 85 per cent cocoa has 2.9 micrograms of serotonin per gram, while chocolate boasting 70 to 84 per cent cocoa has high levels of L-tryptophan. If you can manage it, around 30 grams per day is a healthy amount of dark chocolate to consume.</p> <p><strong>2. Salmon</strong></p> <p>This popular fish is high in tryptophan levels, so by eating it, you’re giving your body the building blocks to create more serotonin. Plus, salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Bonus!</p> <p><strong>3. Eggs</strong></p> <p>Eggs contain a protein that helps boost the levels of tryptophan in your blood plasma. If you can, leave the yolks in – they are rich in tryptophan, as well as other goodness your body loves, such as omega-3 fatty acids, biotin, and more.</p> <p><strong>4. Aw, nuts!</strong></p> <p>Picture your favourite nut. Got it? Yes! That’s the one! It has tryptophan. Ask the person next to you to picture their favourite nut as well – tell them that it contains tryptophan, too. What I’m getting at is that all nuts contain this essential serotonin ingredient.</p> <p><strong>5. Say cheese</strong></p> <p>If it’s cocktail hour, combine a handful of nuts with some cheese and crackers for a tryptophan boost.</p> <p>What’s a food that always puts you in a good mood? Let us know in the comments!</p>

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