How Food Changes Your Personality

Every plant and animal you eat is a virtual factory of mood changing chemicals. The familiar adage, "You are what you eat," takes on new meaning as you absorb not only the nutrients, but the "chemical personality" of the food as well.

Some foods heat up your metabolism, others cool it down. Some foods have stronger chemicals and a more dramatic personality, like coffee and alcohol. Others, like the passionate tomato, are more subtle. Their effects build up slowly, over time.

As your blood chemistry changes, so do your emotions and thoughts. Ayurveda believes that personality and emotions are in the blood. Drink coffee every day? Any food you consume on a regular basis can make these personality changes chronic, a kind of food possession. Discovering the personality effects of food is easy. Simply take a few moments each day to notice your feelings, recalling what you've eaten. Once you know the connection between food and your thoughts, you can make a better choice for how you want to live.

The passionate Italian chef will have a new scapegoat. "Honey, it's not my fault, the tomato did it.", will be the latest excuse. Feeling hot under the collar every time you eat chilis? In your home, try to walk away from fights triggered by powerful foods like chili peppers, red meat, wheat, sugar, and dairy. Although they offer a brief moment of pleasure, they can disrupt the entire household mere hours after consumption.

Take the compassionate approach instead and eliminate these foods if they are offensive to your constitution.