How Your Food Affects Your Mood And Productivity (Based on your DNA)

Most of us eat for pleasure, but the foods we choose can also profoundly affect our mood, focus, and productivity. Just as some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others and some experience anxiety from eating too much sugar, we all have different nutritional needs. The key is figuring out which nutrients your body needs to function optimally so you can tweak your diet accordingly. After all, no one wants their mood or productivity to suffer due to poor nutrition!

Why is nutrient intake so important?

The human body is made of trillions of cells, each of which contains a nucleus that houses all the genetic information necessary to build and maintain the body. The DNA in each cell contains about 20,000 genes, which encode for proteins. For example, if your eye color is blue, then a specific gene causes the production of a protein called OCA2 that results in your blue eyes.

If you want to understand why food affects your mood and productivity (and don't we all?), it's important to know how nutrients affect the body at its most basic level. Nutrients are chemicals that our bodies need in order to survive and thrive: vitamins and minerals fall under this category as well; so, do carbohydrates, fats and proteins—the building blocks of life!

In order for these nutrients to get into our bloodstreams so they can be used by every cell in our bodies (98%+), we have to digest them first by breaking down proteins into amino acids and other nutrients into their component parts so they can be absorbed through the gut wall into blood capillaries before traveling through arteries into organs where they're stored until needed later on downstream when those cells require fuel during daily activities like walking upstairs or playing football on Sunday afternoons or whatever else happens during weekend days off.

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How does this all work?

When we talk about DNA, it’s helpful to understand how this works. Your genes are coded instructions for making amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), so if you have a genetic mutation that causes an amino acid to be produced differently from the way it would otherwise be produced, those instructions will be different from everyone else’s. This can lead to changes in your metabolism, which is why certain people get high blood pressure or heart disease while others don't—it's not just a matter of poor eating habits or unhealthy lifestyles.

How does this relate to food? Our body uses the amino acids we ingest and turns them into neurotransmitters; neurotransmitters then act as messengers between neurons in our brain and affect things like mood, focus and productivity. You may have heard about serotonin—that's one example of a neurotransmitter affected by diet!

NUTRIENTS TO BOOST YOUR MOOD, FOCUS AND PRODUCTIVITY

Which nutrients should I pay attention to?

To get the most out of your DNA, you should pay attention to:

Omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have shown that an omega-3 deficiency can play a role in depression, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s. If you don’t eat fish or other sources of omega-3 fatty acids (like walnuts), consider taking a supplement like krill oil or flaxseed oil.
Vitamin D. This vitamin is essential for maintaining strong bones and muscles; it also helps regulate your mood, immune system, and heart health (to name just a few). Of course, get some sun exposure every day—but if you don’t live where there's ample sun year-round (or if you work at night), consider taking vitamin D supplements daily.
Magnesium & phosphorus. These two minerals help stabilize blood pressure levels while they counteract stress hormones like cortisol—all important factors when it comes to keeping energy levels up throughout the day without crashing or burning out too early! Opt for leafy greens such as spinach when possible since this food group contains many other nutrients besides magnesium/phosphorus; however, there are also good sources inside legumes such as lentils which contain both and protein, so try adding these into your diet too!
B vitamins. These are essential for supporting your metabolism and brain function and helping maintain healthy hair and skin. Try to get B vitamins from whole foods whenever possible—consider adding some legumes into your diet since these contain many essential nutrients including protein, fiber, folate/folic acid and B vitamins!

How does my mood, focus, and productivity impact my daily life?

You may be thinking, “What does my mood have to do with anything?” or “How could someone's focus affect them every day?” But food affects more than just how you look and feel. It also impacts your productivity, which means that when you're at work or in class, it can affect your ability to concentrate and ultimately get things done.

Of course, this is only one way to look at the relationship between nutrition and productivity. Plenty of other factors can contribute to how well-rested you feel throughout the day—but if you've ever had a bad night's sleep because of an upset stomach or experienced brain fog after overeating sugar, these connections will make sense.

The simple fact is that your body feels better when you eat a healthy meal. As a result, you have more energy and are able to focus more clearly on whatever task is at hand. Your mood also improves; this means that any arguments or conflicts with others will be less likely to occur.

How can I BIOhack my DNA to improve my diet?

As you can see, your DNA is an essential part of your health. If you want to know what foods are best for you, then testing your DNA is the way to go. You can also use this test to determine which supplements will work best for you as well as if any dietary restrictions might affect your health.

The most common way to test your DNA is through a saliva sample or blood sample taken by a doctor. It will look at many different genes from all over the body and identify specific mutations that may affect their function or expression in ways that could be harmful later on down the road (especially when paired with other risk factors). Once these mutations are identified, doctors recommend dietary changes based on what foods have been shown help reduce inflammation caused by these mutated genes so they can stay healthy longer without developing chronic illnesses.

I have found The DNA Company's test to be the most insightful and actionable test on the market. You can set yourself on a path to a healthy, happy life by understanding hormones, nutrition, sleep, physical activity, inflammation, and longevity.

Recently, I sat down with Kashif Khan, the founder of The DNA company, to discuss DNA and how it affects your wellbeing. Check out the video here.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT DNA TESTING CAN DO FOR YOU

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What else can I do to improve my mood, focus, and productivity?

Want to take your mood, focus, and productivity to the next level?

Exercise. Just like you need food to keep your body healthy, you must also exercise regularly to keep your mind healthy. In addition, regular physical activity can help reduce stress and improve sleep—both of which are detrimental to productivity.
Sleep. Not getting enough shut-eye affects everything from our ability to remember things (bad for work) to how much energy we have throughout the day (bad for everything). In addition, our bodies need rest to function properly, so if you want better results at work (and in life), ensure you get enough sleep each night!
Cut back on caffeine and alcohol after lunchtime.
Keep electronics out of the bedroom; they can mess with your circadian rhythm.
Stick to a regular bedtime and wake-up time.
Get outside for at least 20 minutes every day—even on cloudy days!

You can improve your mood and productivity through the food you eat.

The first step is to know which foods are likely to improve your mood and productivity and which might have a negative effect. Check out this list below:

Foods that are good for your mood:

Fruits and vegetables (especially berries)
Nuts and seeds (almonds, cashews)
Whole grains (quinoa, oats)
Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, collards)
Legumes (chickpeas)
Dark chocolate (cacao)

The second step is to make sure you’re getting enough of the good foods in your diet. You don’t need to eat everything on this list every day—it’s really about striking a balance between what you eat. Get creative with your meals and try some new recipes!

The third step is to cut out the bad foods from your diet. This can be difficult at first, but once you’re used to eating well and feeling great, you won’t want to go back!

Foods that are bad for your mood:

Processed foods (cookies, candy)
Refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta)
Sugar
Alcohol

Ready to test your DNA and improve your mood, focus and productivity?

It’s important to remember that genetics is just one factor in how your food can affect your mood and productivity. In addition, your environment, lifestyle choices, and even the people around you significantly impact you.

We often get bogged down by all these factors when trying to find the perfect diet or routine for ourselves, but there’s one thing that all successful people have in common: they keep going despite setbacks. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about doing what works best for you and permitting yourself to make mistakes along the way. As long as we keep working hard (even when it feels impossible), eventually, things will work out just fine!

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