We all know that feeling of coming home after a bad day and indulging in a whole tub of ice cream. For you, maybe it’s a bag of chips, or maybe a sleeve (or two) of Oreos. Whatever it may be, we call these treats “comfort foods.” Increased stress or anxiety can greatly impact one’s eating habits, whether as a result of a hard day at work or unease while cramming for the night before a test. During these stressful times, almost 70% of Americans find themselves turning to snacks in order to feel safe and more in control. Although indulging may leave an individual with lingering feelings of guilt, it is comforting at the moment and often helps them relax.
Ever since we were babies, we’ve been given comfort items in the form of blankets, pacifiers, and teddy bears. In our young minds, that pacifier was the greatest sense of protection we knew at that point–despite it only being a piece of plastic. That “piece of plastic” was familiar to us, and we built a sense of reliance on it to help soothe our fears and anxieties, even as young infants. As we grow up, we continue to find items that simulate the same feeling of protection and comfort. Favorite books, movies, or even a person can create this feeling–or maybe, a certain food.
One common factor in most comfort foods is that they are often sweet and calorie-dense. This can help immediately boost our energy levels, in turn boosting our overall mood. A number of studies show that starchy foods actually help the body create serotonin, a chemical that carries messages between your body and your brain. When released, serotonin can help calm nerves and stress-induced anxiety, leaving you in a happier, more energetic mood. At the same time, the brain’s reward system is triggered. Most people are constantly restricting themselves from eating what we have labeled as “junk” foods. However, when we stop restricting, our brain interprets this as a reward. This releases dopamine, not only making us feel good, but causing us to crave even more of that food due to the almost addictive qualities of the hormone. Maybe we turn to food in times of distress because they simply taste good. Scientifically speaking, however, they also help lessen the impact of stress hormones in more ways than one.
Besides the immediate reward system triggered in our brains, there is a deeper layer to our connection to comfort foods and why each person has a different one. It is rooted in our sense of belonging. On holidays like Thanksgiving, it is common to have traditional foods that we enjoy while surrounded by family and friends. When an individual begins to feel lonely, they naturally begin to crave certain meals that they would have on those holidays, to remind them of their families and the good times associated with these memories.
One sniff of popcorn and you are suddenly seven years old, watching a movie with your family on a Friday night; why is that? This sensation is all thanks to the feeling of nostalgia. Although we cannot physically time travel, reminiscing on nostalgic experiences through our senses is the next best thing. Our bodies possess an extremely strong link between our senses and emotional memory. When we smell a certain scent, we often connect it to an experience that had a deep emotional effect on us. Consider the smell of your grandmother’s cookies she would make every time you visited, or freshly cooked macaroni coming right off the stove before family dinners. This sense of nostalgia takes one back to moments free from anxiety or stress, to simpler times.
Despite all the satisfaction that comes with these foods, they can sometimes dampen our mood more than improve it. Yes, starchy foods can improve mood and boost energy, but not for long. At the end of the day, no single item can completely soothe anxious nerves; not even those brownies sitting in your pantry. It’s likely that we as humans are more open to new experiences and challenges during times of change than we can imagine. Not only that, but indulging in high-calorie foods may leave individuals with feelings of guilt and shame in the long run, further worsening their mood. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your favorite snack. At the same time, it’s important to find comfort in your favorite people and activities, as well as recognizing that stress is usually a result of being underprepared. The best way to settle these nervous emotions is to tackle whatever obstacle is bothering you, head on. Although comfort foods may console us at the moment, over-reliance on them is not always ideal.
All in all, there truly is a lot more science behind your comfort meals than you think. But beyond the scientific aspect, comfort foods have so much power because of our belief in them. Just as your half-chewed teddy bear calmed you down as a child, there is a similar sense of protection and familiarity in these foods. There’s a lot more layers to comfort foods than one can imagine, but it still feels good to go home after a long day and enjoy that tub of ice cream.