Some of my interests...

Introduction... 

Baking is a prominent activity that has been enjoyed by people since the beginning of time. While baking is often associated with the production of delicious pastries, it also has numerous benefits for a person’s psychological and physical well-being. This paper will explore the various benefits of baking, including its therapeutic components, its ability to reduce stress, anxiety, and levels of depression, and its capacity to improve cognitive function. This topic and this paper are both very significant to me because baking is a method that I have been using throughout my whole life. Since I can remember, I have been using baking as therapy unknowingly. Whenever I am having a bad day, or whenever something is wrong, I get an urge to bake, and I look forward to baking because I know it will change my state of mind for the better. I found that baking or any type of cooking for amusement always makes me feel better afterward. It is my understanding that many people feel the same way, thus I wish to write my essay on this subject. From personal experience, I find that baking can indeed have a therapeutic effect to it. Thus, my point of view in this essay is that baking can in fact have positive effects on a person’s mental state and mental health. I am confident in the validity of this belief; however, I will further explore its legitimacy throughout this dissertation with the intent to prove that baking truly can be therapeutic.

Background: The History of Baking... 

Before discussing the benefits of baking, I will provide a brief synopsis of the history of baking. The history of baking dates back to the beginning of time. Since very early on, humans have been baking as a source to cook their food. Archaeologists have found vast proof that humans started baking a long time ago. Nevertheless, it is in the time of the Egyptians that baking as we know it today truly commences. The Egyptians started baking around the year 2,600 B.C. and they are considered to be the first proper bakers. Research shows that Egyptians were the first civilization to utilize yeast in the process of making their bread. Archaeologists have even found bread pieces in old Egyptian tombs. They did this as part of a ritual, where the bread they placed in tombs was for their loved ones to have food in the afterlife. From then on, baking became a popular activity throughout various cultures, for instance, it became a prominent profession during the time of the Roman Empire. According to various researchers, it was the Greeks who taught the Romans how to bake. The Greeks had a very specific method for baking, and they shared such technique with the Romans. The method was the following: first they would soak wild grass grains in water, then they would mash them, add spices to fill the dough with flavor, and then they would stir and mix until a paste-like texture was reached. Finally, they would cook such paste on a hot rock, and this process would produce what the Greek’s and formerly the Romans knew as bread.

Baking became such an acclaimed profession that the “Roman Empire’s Baker’s Guild” formerly known as the “Pistorum” was created. This recognized bakers as skilled artisans and held baking in the highest of regards. A few years later, around the year 1 A.D. pastry chefs were born in Rome, and they quickly began to spread all over the Roman empire. This means that bakers expanded their horizons to more than just bread. They began to cook sweet cakes, various pastries, pretzels, and more. Because of the popularity the profession of baking had in Rome, it spread throughout the whole continent of Europe and Asia. The next major shift that baking faced was during Medieval Times. It was at this time that baking became a measure to determine status. Many civilians could not afford ovens, thus only people who had enough money to acquire one could bake and prove their higher status. The act of baking had already been associated with competence and expertise, but it was during the Medieval Times that it began to be associated with wealth and status. Furthermore, throughout the 16th and 17th centuries baking shifted more towards what we know today. Bakers began to introduce cream, butter, refined flour, sugar, and even raisins to their recipes. This created a major growth in the economy and baking became a great means of profit where bakers were now selling and even delivering their goods to people. With the rise of the Industrial Revolution, baking became more accessible due to an increase in technology. Many people began to have ovens in their homes making the art of baking much more approachable. It was also during this time that baking powder was invented and with it came the light and fluffy cakes we know today. Baking is an evolving art that constantly changes and evolves, still, it is a crucial part of people’s lives all over the world. As shown throughout the previous paragraphs, baking has a lengthy and complex history, however it is because of that history that we can all enjoy baking today. People all over the world partake in the act of baking, which then raises the question, is baking a beneficial activity to partake in?

Undoubtedly, baking is truly a beneficial activity for people. It is a therapeutic activity that can have numerous mental health benefits. While many people bake simply for the joy of creating something delicious, the process of baking can also have a positive impact on our well-being. From reducing stress and anxiety to improving our mood and sense of accomplishment, there are several therapeutic benefits of baking. One of the primary benefits of baking is its ability to reduce stress levels and anxiety. When people bake, they need to be focused, by focusing on following a recipe people can forget about their concerns and worries. When baking people need to concentrate on mixing ingredients, creating, and stirring the batter, and by being focused on this people are less likely to concentrate on negative emotions and stressful thoughts. In addition, when people stir a batter or roll out a piece of dough, they are practicing rhythmic motion, and this allows people to enter a relaxing state of mind. Even the simplest act can become meditative and calming. And throughout the process of baking an additional benefit comes into play: creativity. Baking sparks a person’s creativity and skill by pushing him or her to create something from scratch utilizing their abilities and imagination. Baking sparks a person’s creative side and can even promote a sense of purpose for bakers. Furthermore, baking has a positive impact on a person’s mood. You might be asking, how can baking affect mood? Well, the answer is simple: through the aroma of freshly baked goods and through the magnificent taste of such goods. When baking a lot of smells come into play, and these smells can trigger emotions of comfort and even remind one of happy memories. In addition, the baker gets to try their finished product, and eating delicious baked goods releases happy hormones also known as endorphins. And the release of such hormones can improve a person’s mood taking them from a state of sadness to one of happiness. This is why baking is related to making one happy. Baking has the ability to fill a person with joy and peace.

Another therapeutic benefit of baking is the sense of accomplishment and pride it creates in a baker. When a person successfully completes a culinary creation such as a cake or even a loaf of bread, he or she will feel a sense of achievement. Such feeling is amazing, and it can serve to boost a person’s confidence and even their self-esteem. People tend to feel proud of their creations, they want to show it off because they feel pride for what they created in the kitchen. Not only that but they can share such delicious products with their friends and family, and this connects to the final therapeutical benefit of baking which is its ability to increase social connection with others. Baking allows for people to come together to taste and share the pastries that were baked, creating a social bond and sense of belonging between baker and consumer.  In an essay published by the International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, various researchers studied the therapeutic qualities of baking or cooking as a hobby. Twenty “chefs” were interviewed, and the researchers reached the following conclusion: they found that baking improves a person’s state of mind, their mental and overall well-being, and they associated it with “life satisfaction”. The interviewees were asked a large set of questions related to baking, here are some of the most important insight that they shared with the research team:

When asked how cooking reduced stress levels and anxiety the subjects stated the following:

May: "If something troubles me, cooking makes me feel appreciated…it increases my confidence too… I tell myself that there is so much in me to give as a human being, I am talented, and others see it too… Cooking takes me to a more optimistic place" (Guttman, Mor and Amiram 2011).

Yaniv: "For me, cooking is a real therapy" (Guttman, Mor and Amiram 2011).

When asked about how baking makes them feel and how their moods were affected by baking the respondents stated the following:

Lea: “It's very pleasant for me to touch the vegetables and I really enjoy mixing and tossing

salads with my hands. I can take the time with the dough because I love… I like all the

mushy things I can do with my hands. If I make a chocolate decoration I really enjoy

touching the chocolate itself… I get pleasure out of these things” (Guttman, Mor and Amiram 2011).

Guy: "Perhaps it's a bit of an exaggeration, but it's like meditation because you move onto a different level… you don't feel different sensations you did before” (Guttman, Mor and Amiram 2011).

               When asked about feeling a sense of accomplishment the subjects stated the following:

Tali: "I, for example, will never cook for myself… A big part of the fun is seeing people enjoying it” (Guttman, Mor and Amiram 2011).

Sharon: "[cooking] is an opportunity to give. For people who use to give and get pleasure out of it, cooking is great… being the nourishing 'mother' and seeing the other accepts it and it makes him happy and content… it's the most satisfying thing in the world" (Guttman, Mor and Amiram 2011).

When asked about creativity throughout the process of baking the subjects stated the following:

Lea: "I find creativity also in the course of cooking. It can be the tying new things that aren't in the recipe, or the way of cooking – grilling or baking… being creative can be in any aspect of the process” (Guttman, Mor and Amiram 2011).

When discussing the social connection and sense of appreciation that is created between baker and consumer the respondents stated the following:

Guy: "Eventually we all eat and enjoy it very much, and then it is our time to spend together. Food is a mean of creating these get-togethers” (Guttman, Mor and Amiram 2011).

May: "The feedbacks (from others) … I yearn for it… fulfills my need for appreciation” (Guttman, Mor and Amiram 2011).

               The previous passages are a few of many ideas shared by the interviewees throughout the study, in the end they all demonstrate the various therapeutical benefits that baking has for a person. 

Furthermore, it has been found true that baking creates a feeling of happiness in a person. For all of the reasons previously stated, baking promotes a sense of happiness in people who partake in the activity. This is not just my take on the subject, scientists have studied such idea and have found through research that baking does indeed lower levels of depression and heightens happiness levels. In a study presented at the Surabaya International Health Conference, it was found that baking can have a positive effect on a person’s emotional state, ultimately promoting happiness. The experiment took place in a nursing home. It is true that the elderly tend to be more prone to suffer of depression. So, the study placed them decided to induce the depressed elderly in occupational therapy which was achieved through a cooking group. In simpler terms, elderly that were depressed and resided in the nursing home were put in a cooking class as a form of therapy. The elderly were interviewed before and after attending several sessions, the results will be displayed in the following charts:

By looking at the charts, it is clear that cooking therapy played a crucial part in elevating happiness levels in the elderly and lowering their depression levels. Approximately 37% of elderly were no longer depressed after partaking in the baking activities, proving that cooking and baking directly affect a person’s happiness levels in a positive manner and eliminates any feelings of depression. To further support the previous analysis, I completed some research of my own. I interviewed a total of five people and asked them about their relationship with baking and how baking makes them feel. The demographic of the interviewees includes people of many ages, ranging from the age of 12 to the age of 46. The set of questions I asked each of the volunteers was the following:

1.     How does baking make you feel? What types of emotions does baking promote in you?

2.     How often do you bake? Or when do you get the feeling/ urge to bake?

3.     Do you feel happier when you are baking? Do you feel happier after you bake?

4.     Does baking make you feel relaxed? Do you think baking decreases your stress levels?

5.     Would you say that personally baking is a type of therapy?

The volunteers answered all the questions exceptionally, and with their answers I gained further insight on the therapeutic effects that baking has on a person and the way it increases a person’s happiness levels. For the sake of length, I will not include all the answers I received in this paper, but I will include many of them that I believe, further prove how baking increases happiness levels in a person. When asked about the emotions that baking promoted in the respondents, I collected the following answers:

Ana Delgado (20 years old): “I feel happy when I bake and even after I bake, I am left with a feeling of peace and happiness. I have a sense of happiness because I feel pride for the pastry, I have correctly completed all on my own… the process of baking brings me immense joy and almost always such happiness stays with me after I am finished baking”

Julieta Carlos (21 years old): “If I’m feeling stressed about a situation, baking is able to take my mind off of it. I turn on some music, invite some company and allow myself to release the thoughts that were worrying me”

“Happiness is not the only emotion I get to experience when I decide to bake, it can become pure peace and comfort, and how the sweet treat can truly become a cherishing moment… The stress is completely gone whenever I get to be with myself and a handful of flour, sugar, and spices”

“People really find joy in baking… Baking definitely is one of my types of therapy. There are other remedies to take care of oneself, such as writing, exercising or even conversating. But, whenever I feel like I can make something for someone else and turn myself into that little girl I used to be, it definitely brings a side of me that I truly cherish”

Inna Maaly (12 years old): “Baking makes me feel happy. When I bake, I feel relaxed, and I just have a lot of fun. I get an urge or a feeling to bake when I am bored and, in the mood, to create something. I love making new things, and baking gives me an opportunity to do that. So, when I am in the mood to make something different and new, I bake”

Inna Alcaraz (46 years old): “One of the biggest emotions I feel when I bake is excitement. I love baking so when I do it, I am in a constant state of excitement. I also feel happy and relaxed. I get many positive emotions but mostly I feel inspired, I feel useful, and I even feel perky”

 These are a few of the many responses I compiled from the interviews I conducted; however, these were the ones that stuck out to me the most. It is evident through the previous passages that all volunteers feel an increase in their happiness levels when they bake and they even admit to feeling other therapeutical benefits of baking such as the relief of stress, and a sense of accomplishment. The research I conducted further supports my thesis on the effectiveness of baking as a means of therapy.

Finally, baking can have other beneficial aspects to it besides therapeutical components such as the improvement it has on cognitive function. One could think that baking and cognitive function have nothing to do with each other, however, the previous statement is misguided. Baking is directly related to cognitive function; baking strengthens and improves the frontal lobes and all of its functions. According to a study completed by Dr. Restak, baking has numerous benefits for our brain and directly improves a person’s sensory acuity, sensory memory, motor skills, general memory, working memory, and sequencing and anticipating (Findley 2020). The following statements are a conclusion of the conclusion Dr. Restak reached in his study: Baking improves a person’s sensory acuity in the process of getting to know ingredients and determining how ingredients go well with each other. In addition, it strengthens sensory memory by creating the ability of imagining what a dish would taste like by simply reading a recipe. A baker reading a recipe would put into use his or her sensory memory to imagine what a tiramisu would taste like before cooking it. Furthermore, baking improves motor skills. When a baker stirs, slices, dices, measures, and separates eggs, he or she is employing their motor skills. Not only that, but baking improves a person’s general and working memory. The general memory is strengthened by utilizing a person’s ability to remember how they previously made a dish, how that dish tasted like, and even the ingredients they used to make it. Additionally, it improves a person’s working memory by completing various tasks at once and not forgetting to tend to tend to all of them equally. It also helps a person balance their time and their resources. Finally, baking improves the frontal lobes’ function of sequencing and anticipating. A baker has to have everything ready at a certain time and needs to prepare accordingly. Furthermore, if anything goes wrong the baker needs to improvise and make any needed changes (Findley 2020). Putting all these behaviors into actions through baking heavily strengthens a person’s cognitive function. The improvement if cognitive function is one of many benefits that come with baking, which is why I conclude that it not only has therapeutical benefits but also improves a person’s overall well-being.

In conclusion... 

In conclusion, baking can have numerous therapeutic benefits for our mental health and overall well-being. From reducing stress and anxiety to boosting mood and self-esteem, to being a great means to exercise our brains, baking allows us to engage in a calming and creative activity that can be deeply rewarding. Whether we are baking for ourselves or others, the act of creating something delicious and comforting can bring joy and fulfillment to our lives. I encourage each and every one who is reading this to give baking a chance, it will introduce your mind and body to a world of immense joy and peace.

I have included a few baking related blogs that I personally like. I encourage all of you to take a look at them, and to give baking a chance! 

Give Baking a Chance! 

here are a few blogs to get you started...