
How The Food You Eat Affects Marital Satisfaction

Photo by Ellie Ellien on Unsplash
So often, when discussing improving our marriage, we focus on communication, intimacy, and topics like conflict resolution. And that’s certainly appropriate. But over the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on specific things we can do to take charge of our happy hormones because when we’re happier, we’re more optimistic about our marriage and seek ways to make it better.
It’s tempting to blame our spouse for our marriage problems when things are bad, and we imagine everything they could do to improve things.
However, there are things we can do to improve our relationship with our spouse, simple things.
Focusing on things we can do to improve our life and mood to become healthier mentally and emotionally significantly impacts the quality of our marriage. Change can start with us.
So, with that thought, did you know what you eat might be responsible for your mood?
The food you’re eating affects your hormones and, as a result, affects your interaction with your spouse and how you view your marriage.
So, if you’re feeling low and want to brighten your mood, be mindful of the foods you eat.
Six ways food affects your happy hormones
Healthy Fats
The fats in olive oil, avocados, and nuts are healthy in moderation. They are essential for providing the building blocks to make serotonin and dopamine, two of your primary feel-good neurotransmitters.
To brighten your mood, begin adding more healthy fats to your diet.
Omega-3 Rich Foods
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are great for increasing happiness because omega-3s are essential to brain health and help promote a positive feeling throughout the body. Coldwater fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines are packed with omega-3s. Plant-based options include walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, edamame, seaweed, and algae. Some green leafy vegetables and beans also contain small amounts. Consider adding Omega3-rich foods to your weekly meal plan.
Magnesium-Rich Foods
Dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and legumes promote the production of serotonin, a hormone that contributes to feelings of calmness and relaxation.
If it seems that aspects of your marriage are stressing you and disrupting your peace, one thing you can do to ease those feelings is to add more magnesium-rich foods to your diet; you will reduce stress levels and benefit from their mood-boosting benefits.
Complex Carbohydrates
Whole grains, oats, quinoa, potatoes, and brown rice boost serotonin in the brain, which helps to regulate sleep cycles and contribute to feelings of happiness. So go ahead and enjoy healthy carbs because they boost feelings of happiness and are necessary for a well-balanced diet.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for regulating neurotransmitters related to depression. So getting enough vitamin D-rich foods or supplements is necessary to help keep your mood in check. Foods like fatty fish, mushrooms, and egg yolks are excellent sources of Vitamin D. And Remember that sunshine is one of the most potent sources of vitamin D. Most medical experts suggest aiming for 10-20 minutes of daily sunshine exposure when possible and safe.
Dark Chocolate
I’ve saved the best for last! Dark chocolate is an excellent source of happiness! Its unique blend of nutrients reduces stress hormones while boosting endorphins — the same feel-good hormones that are triggered after exercising. Plus, it tastes great, so why not indulge? BUT, mind your portions, as dark chocolate is still high in calories. Just make sure you buy high-quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content.
Although we don’t often think about it, the foods we eat have a huge impact on how we feel!
So please don’t underestimate the power of healthy eating to improve your happiness levels because what you eat affects marital satisfaction.
Choose wisely and take the time to find the foods you love eating and that will make you feel great and, as a result, happier with your spouse!