08/03/2022
The bioactive components of plants are incredible.
THE SPECTRUM OF DIETARY NEUROTRANSMITTERS
When I eat plant foods, I am reminded that I'm not just eating macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, fat), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), and phytonutrients (polyphenols, carotenoids, alkaloids, organosulfur compounds), but also neurotransmitters (and hormones).
The research doesn't clearly conclude that eating food sources of intact neurotransmitters changes our systemic neurotransmitters to the extent that they influence brain levels. Yet, I think it's interesting to begin to think about all the many ways that these molecules might be having activity in the body beyond their traditional roles in the brain.
Perhaps they are not just 'neurotransmitters' but plant messengers to our cells that modify function. It's interesting how initial terms (like 'neurotransmitters' or 'hormones') given to biological or botanical compounds may be limiting in scope once we find out their actual functions. After all, plants are expansive, like us.
Conversely, it is possible that eating foods rich in what we refer to as "neurotransmitters" has similar results to how they work in the brain. In other words, it would be fascinating to study whether eating plantains and pineapples leads to greater serotonin levels and resulting shifts in mood or whether eating more mung beans, peas, and spinach can help us with memory.
In the meantime, I'll keep eating my rainbow of plants!
