– by Carol Jensen
Have you ever wondered why men tend to love steaks and women fall for baked goods? Or why a woman will choose a salad when her male counterpart wants a hearty cooked meal? And why are green smoothies the best dietary solution for both sexes?
The answer lies in our brains – or rather the hormones influencing our brains. The two major hormones contributing to mental stability and happiness are dopamine and serotonin. Without getting too technical, dopamine is responsible for drive while serotonin is responsible for serenity. Plenty of dopamine means focus, energy and motivation. Abundance of serotonin gives relaxation and a sense of well-being.
Because of the “hard-wiring” of male and female brains, most men burn a lot of dopamine attending to challenges at work, while most women deplete serotonin concentrating on relationship issues.
By the end of the day, a man is dopamine-deficient. His drive is gone (Couch Potato Syndrome). His partner may accuse him of being inattentive, impatient, forgetful and emotionally unavailable, and he may feel bored or exhibit symptoms of addiction and will crave “cave” time. But he is relaxed! His get-up-and-go has vanished, but life is hunky-dorey.
On the other hand, a woman is much more likely to run short of serotonin (High Maintenance Syndrome), dropping her into sudden mood changes, increased neediness, resentfulness, unrealistic expectations, and feelings of being overwhelmed or depressed.
She’s got enough drive to send her and her mate on a 7-week cleaning spree, but nothing is right with the world! Motivation is high while serenity has bottomed out.
How Foods Affect Brain Chemistry
In order for the body to manufacture dopamine, it needs the amino acid tyrosine, first observed in cheese protein (casein). But tyrosine is not only present in all dairy products, including eggs, it is also found in high quantities in meats! It is especially prominent in seafood and turkey. Is it any wonder that after a stressful day requiring lots of focus, a dopamine-depleted male will want steak and lobster?
Serotonin, however, is produced from the amino acid tryptophan – derived from starchy foods! Bread, pasta, potatoes, rice and cereal rank high on the list of tryptophan-containing foods. So when a woman feels stressed, she is more likely to carb-load on donuts or cookies than to reach for ham & eggs. High-carbohydrate foods are known as comfort foods because they contribute to a sense of well-being.
The exciting truth is that leafy greens can boost both dopamine and serotonin levels because they contain tyrosine and tryptophan! The best green sources of both of these amino acids are sea vegetables, such as nori, dulse or kelp. But tyrosine and tryptophan are also present in spinach, collard and mustard greens.
We can boost our uptake of these important amino acids by also having adequate intakes of iron, anti-oxidants and folates, all of which are prevalent in green smoothies.
Green Smoothie Recipes to Enhance His and Her Brain Chemistry
Serotonin Serenity
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1/2 tsp. kelp powder
- 1 orange
- 2 – 3 collard leaves
- Water for blending
Dopamine Delight
Ingredients:
1/2 tsp. spirulina powder- 1 peach
- 1 orange
- 1/2 cucumber, peeled
- 2 celery stalks
- 1 cup spinach leaves
- Water for blending