Brain Benefits of Cooking (2024)

FAQs

Why is cooking good for the brain? ›

Researchers have discovered that cooking and eating 'good' food can in fact lead to a dopamine release in our bodies. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that sends messages between the brain cells and is all about motivation, reward and pleasure, so it makes us feel good.

Mental health experts have also suggested that cooking can help reduce anxiety and relieve mental distress. Turning to the kitchen may allow for behavioral activation and serve as a meaningful self-care activity that improves quality of life.

Cooking had profound evolutionary effects because it increased food efficiency, which allowed human ancestors to spend less time foraging, chewing, and digesting. H. erectus developed a smaller, more efficient digestive tract, which freed up energy to enable larger brain growth.

The idea is to stimulate their senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, hearing) involved in cooking while employing their active involvement in the process. Because so many senses are involved, cooking can potentially trigger happy memories. And it's a great way to bond with a person living with dementia.

Cooking can be considered a great coping skill because it allows you to gain some control when feeling overwhelmed. When cooking a meal, you choose what ingredients and how much of them you include. If you have had an anxious day, you may then want to follow a recipe exactly to incite a familiar outcome.

Like most therapy, culinary therapy is focused on helping people become more mindful and aware. In this case, the act of preparing food serves as the vehicle for exploration and reflection. Some people may also gain benefits from eating home-cooked foods, which can be healthier and less processed than others.

In The Journal of Positive Psychology, researchers found that people feel happier after practicing "everyday creative acts," such as cooking. Cooking is what psychologists call behavioral activation. A good meal requires engagement and presence. Taste, make snap judgments, and add or subtract heat as needed.

Creating meals at home is an activity that nourishes both the body and soul. The act of cooking is the act of caring for one's self at the most basic level. This, in turn, can ease stress and help to calm the mind at the end of a difficult day.

Restaurant meals are often heavy on butter and salt, while packaged food is typically loaded with sodium and additives. Dishes made at home, however, tend to be more nutritious and contain fewer calories.

Is cooking healthier than eating out? ›

It's proven to be healthier

Some studies suggest that people who cook more often, rather than get take-out, have an overall healthier diet. These studies also show that restaurant meals typically contain higher amounts of sodium, saturated fat, total fat, and overall calories than home-cooked meals.

The evidence suggests that cooking and dining at home have benefits beyond just nutrition. Cooking is an excellent form of cognitive stimulation and can promote improved confidence, self-esteem and mood.

Cooking meat before its use by date doesn't extend the date, but it does give you longer to eat it.

“Cooking at home, or other places are good for your mental health because cooking is an act of patience, mindfulness, an outlet for creative expression, a means of communication, and helps to raise one's self esteem as the cook can feel good about doing something positive for their family, themselves or loved ones,” ...

Unlike the rest of the body, however, the brain cannot store this energy, so it needs a constant and steady supply of glucose. Whole grains are complex carbohydrates, which means they release their glucose into the bloodstream slowly, helping us stay alert and focused through the day.

The parts of the brain necessary for planning, coordinating, and executing the motor output required for cooking are the primary motor cortex (for movement) and the prefrontal cortex (for planning and coordination).

It Acts as a Creative Outlet

As you try out new recipes, modify familiar dishes, and devise wholly new ones, you can get away from the constant nagging thoughts that center around your difficulties.