Snack away the stress

November 9, 2009

School is getting harder and everyone is stressing on doing their homework and studying for tests, not to mention the athletes and employed students that struggle to find a balance in such chaos. Searching for tranquility, people tend to eat sugary foods such as ice cream to momentarily soothe them.

In Eat Your Way to Happiness, author Elizabeth Somer, RD, suggests five enlightening edibles that act as antidepressant and stress fighting foods, and no ice cream is not one of them.

Citrus fruits. Oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits all have the mood-boosting ingredient of vitamin C. This vitamin lowers levels of stress hormones and enables people to feel calmer during tough situations.

Nuts. Eating a handful of nuts on a daily basis can make a person feel great. Nuts allow a person to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and keep from causing mood swings because unlike sugary foods, nuts have a low glycemic index. Nuts also contain vitamin E, arginine (an amino acid), and magnesium.

Leafy greens. Leafy greens such as kale and spinach are full of folic acid, which is said to reduce depression and improve blood flow to the brain.

Fish. Salmon, mackerel, and sardines are packed with DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that helps improve a person’s mood while lowering the risk of depression and age-related memory loss.

Dried cherries. Dried cherries consists of potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C, all of which positively influence the way a person’s body respond to stress. Dried cherries are also responsible for maintaining a healthy brain due to antioxidants (including vitamin C), that prevent damage to brain cells leading to memory problems.

All five foods are promised to provide a person with a piece of mind and a side of serenity. So if there is ever a need to calm down or eat away the pain, sip on some lemonade, crack open a walnut, split spinach with Popeye, reel in more mackerel, or devour some dried cherries.

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