Eat to Beat Stress
Stress-busting snacks you should keep on hand.
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Eat to Beat Stress
Eat to Beat Stress // Cereal (© Foodcollection/Getty Images)
By Carlin Flora, Psychology Today
A balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables is perhaps the best all-around buffer against stress-related health problems, but carbohydrates will quickly soothe you in a tense moment, says Judith Wurtman, author (with Nina Frusztajer Marquis) of The Serotonin Power Diet (Rodale, 2006), and a research scientist at MIT. Here, Wurtman explains why you should keep stress-zapping snacks on hand.
An empty stomach: Carbohydrates such as dry cereal contain tryptophans, which are amino acids that are converted into serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is often called a “feel-good” neurotransmitter—it has been shown to calm us down and restore mental energy. But to feel serotonin’s lovely effects, it’s best to eat on an empty stomach.
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