“In the midst of a crisis, a good meal can make all the difference,” is a quote from the film ‘Julie & Julia’. Comfort foods, true to their name, are dishes that provide a sense of comfort, satisfaction, warmth, or nostalgia when eaten. These foods vary greatly between cultures and individuals, often linked to childhood memories or family traditions.

I could eat pasta in any form or recipe every day because it gives me a sense of consolation. When I come home from a long day, I crave pasta. Some days, it’s a plate full of hot white rice, dhal curry, and potato fries, which feels like a hug.

Like me, my sister finds comfort in the fried rice or meatball pasta I make. For you, it might be ramen, sushi, biryani, your mother’s pumpkin curry, or your grandmother’s chocolate chip cookies with hot milk. 

I have spent a considerable amount of time thinking about why pasta is my comfort food, but the reasons remain elusive. However, I believe that when we feel down or blue, we often seek familiarity, which is what comfort food offers.

Studies show that when we feel safe and our needs are met (like when we eat comfort food), our brain changes. Eating comfort food makes our hypothalamus (a structure deep in the brain that acts as the body’s smart control coordinating centre) release dopamine, a chemical messenger between brain cells. Dopamine tells our body to expect a reward and can improve things like digestion, blood flow, memory, focus, mood, sleep, and stress management. 

Thinking about comfort food can release dopamine, starting a cycle of motivation and reward. Other hormones that work with dopamine include serotonin and adrenaline. Some animal studies suggest that these hormones, which reduce stress, are released when we eat comfort food, making us want to eat it more.

However, there are two sides to every coin. What if your comfort food is unhealthy and high in sugar and fat? Does it harm your brain and health? A study found that stress and comfort food can change how our brain feels full and satisfied. 

The hormone leptin, which helps regulate the long-term balance between the body’s food intake and energy use, tells the brain when we’re full, and if we listen to it, we stop eating. 

However, high stress levels increase cortisol, which lowers leptin (the main function of which is to help regulate the long-term balance between the body’s food intake and energy use) and raises ghrelin, the hunger hormone. This can lead to overeating of comfort foods and increase the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and ongoing stress effects.

Comfort food can evoke happy memories, foster connections, and celebrate family and cultural traditions, positively influencing mental health. It’s common to crave comfort food when feeling stressed, sad, or lonely. However, overconsumption of sugary, fatty, and salty foods can raise the risk of serious health issues. Therefore, practising mindful eating is key. In addition, having diverse stress-relief strategies helps balance the benefits and drawbacks of comfort food.

“You’re going to face a lot of times when you’ll be confused and lost. But you should come home and talk to your old friends during those times. Because while everything around you is changing, you’ll be happy to know that a few things remain constant. And it’s important because these constants are comforting,” says Kavya to Dhruv, the main character in the web series ‘Little Things’.

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