I was doing a lecture about stress at the Nutrition College on Monday night and the conversation turned to the concept of ‘comfort food’. At some time or another, most of us can relate to having an emotional relationship with food, especially during times of stress. We were talking about how emotional eating impacts our health and how it often makes our stress worse, despite our original motivations. And yet, the behaviour persists. This was when one student shared that when she has had a rough week, she will take some time on the weekend to make oatmeal. She says she will spend a good 40 minutes to slow cook the whole grain, adding delicious fruits & nuts, and inevitably feels much better after having a big bowl. After we established that this is exceptional – I’ll be honest, comfort food for me is more like chips and popcorn – we started to discuss why this would be the case. Some students suggested that oatmeal for some is emotionally nourishing, because it taps into childhood memories of moms and grandmoms preparing with love this wholesome dish. I see this happening with my niece, who devours her grandma’s porridge weekly. But there is more to this grain than creating nostalgia. Without realizing it, the student was reaching for a highly nutritious food with real physiological effects on the nervous system.
Here is why oatmeal is the ultimate comfort food:
– Oatmeal is a good source of many vitamins and minerals; our nutrient demands increase during periods of stress
– Oatmeal is a source of specific nutrients that are nourishing to the nervous system: magnesium, a natural relaxant & B vitamins, used in energy pathways & nerve function.
– Oatmeal is a very high in fibres, which is not only good for our cardiovascular system and cholesterol levels, works to stabilize blood sugar levels (which can ossillate dramatically during periods of stress and contribute to our feelings of stress)
– In addition to nutrients, oats contain phytochemicals that have antidepressant and nervine effects, simultaneously strengthening and calming the nervous system.
So there is opportunity to eat for comfort healthfully! But really, the greater lesson is in acknowledging that food can provide real physical and emotional comfort when we are in need, and in so acknowledging, we will actually get the nourishment and satiety we were seeking. And instead of binging and feeling guilty, we can start to incorporate foods that are otherwise nutritious and delicious!
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