Scientists reveal link between what we eat and how we trust

A new study from Leiden University proves that the types of food we eat affect our trust levels.
Researchers found that the administration of the amino acid tryptophan (TRP) contained in food such as soy, eggs, chocolate and spinach promotes interpersonal trust.

Other foods rich in tryptophan include red meat, cottage cheese, nuts and seeds, bananas, tuna, shellfish and turkey.

The study
The researchers looked at how people's trust levels were affected by eating foods that contain tryptophan. Interpersonal trust was assessed by the trust game, a task widely used in behavioural economics. In the game, the first member of the pair is given some money and given the option of giving some to their partner. The gifted cash is then tripled and the second person can then give some of it back. The game is seen as a measure of trust because the first player could end up a lot better off but only if he trusts the second player enough to give him a large sum initially.
Those taking part in the study were given orange juice to drink and in half of the cases, the juice was supplemented with tryptophan. Players who had the tryptophan transferred almost 40% more cash, the journal Psychological Science reports.

Bottom line
The Leiden University researchers said: ‘Interpersonal trust is an essential element of social life and co-operative behaviour. After all, most people will only work together if they expect others to do so also, making mutual trust an important precondition for establishing mutual co-operation.
We found that people who took tryptophan transferred significantly more euros than people who took the placebo. Our results support the materialist approach that you are what you eat, the idea that the food one eats has a bearing on one’s state of mind. So the food we take may act as a cognitive enhancer that modulates the way we think and perceive the physical and social world.
In particular, the supplementation of tryptophan or diets containing tryptophan may promote interpersonal trust in inexpensive, efficient and healthy ways.’

Tryptophan
Tryptophan is formed in the body during the digestion of some proteins and is a building block of the ‘feel-good’ brain chemical serotonin. It is also a natural sedative, which has led to it being blamed for making people doze off after eating a big turkey dinner.

So if you fear your partner doesn’t entirely trust you, get on her good side by whipping up an omelette. And to really make an impression, serve chocolate mousse for dessert!


Sources: http://www.iamexpat.nl/, http://www.socialsciences.leiden.edu/, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/