An Argument for Between-Meal Snacking

I try not to do anything on an empty stomach, but that goes doubly
for decision making. That cranky, ravenous state has never been
conducive to good choices and recent research has coincided with my
findings. A 2008 study conducted jointly by Cambridge University and
UCLA and published in Science controlled the diets of twenty
participants to alter their serotonin levels and asked them to play a
game. The game involved one player offering to share a portion of money
with another player. If both accepted the offer, both got at least some
amount of money; if the offer was rejected, no one benefited.
Under normal conditions, people generally rejected offers under one
third of the total portion about 50 percent of the time. But when their
serotonin levels were lower, rejection percentage increased to 80.
People were more likely to act aggressively and carelessly when lacking
serotonin, the feel-good chemical our brains make from tryptophan, an
amino acid only found in foods like poultry, dairy, nuts, bananas, and
shellfish. So when people are between meals and hungry, serotonin levels
dip and crankiness–and rash decision making–increases.
Related: Best Snacks to Boost Your Mood

Hormones Have a Say
We can control sleep and hunger, but some factors that affect
decision making are simply biological. For instance, women have a
monthly cycle during which their hormones fluctuate. Most of us know
that it influences our skin, body shape, and even our cravings, but it
also plays a part in the options we’re pulled toward when making a
choice. At the UK’s Aston University in 2007, thirteen women not under
hormone-influencing medication were asked to give job packages of
varying statuses to dominant- and non-dominant-looking men. The study
found that certain stages of women’s cycles affected who they gave job
packages to. For instance, those in the follicular (first) phase favored
the dominant men. Other research has suggested that women view faces
differently depending on cycle stages as well.
Men’s hormones fluctuate and affect their decision making abilities
as well. Cambridge University professors John Coates and Joe Herbert
performed a study that tested seventeen traders’ testosterone levels and
compared them to their work results. They found that those who made
money in the morning experienced a testosterone surge that ultimately
led to risky, bad decisions. Coates and Herbert theorized that the
increased testosterone in the morning fueled their desire to take
chances and act aggressively, which had a negative impact on their
performance for the rest of the day.
As an indecisive person who strives to overcome that label, I know
that there are some things I do–like asking multiple people for
advice–and some things I don’t do, like follow my gut–that lead to a
struggle with choice. But there’s some comfort in knowing that there are
actions I can take toward making better decisions, like getting enough
sleep and eating right. Although, it’s nice to know I can pin the blame
on factors beyond my reach every once in a while. (It’s not me, it’s my
cycle!) That won’t make me a better decider, but it may ease the guilt
from time to time.
Related:
Do You Make Rational Decisions?

Read more: https://www.care2.com/greenliving/3-surprising-factors-that-lead-to-bad-decisions.html#ixzz1FMUtuiQx