ABSTRACT
Eighteenth-century gastronomist Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, famous for his book The Physiology of Taste (1825), once proclaimed, “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.” The modern adage “You are what you eat” could well have been derived from this old quotation. And, of course, it is true. This old saying has been brought more clearly into focus in modern times, as researchers now know that our bodies synthesize food substances known as neurotransmitters. Many prominent nutritionists believe these neurotransmitters relay messages to the brain that, in turn, affect our moods, sex drives, appetites, and even personalities. Adding a certain food or omitting another could be just what a person might need.
