Ever wish there were a happy pill to spritz up your spirits when you're out of sorts? To make you laugh when you're feeling down? Or to calm your nerves when you're about to bite someone's head off? Well, get this: There are several things in your kitchen that might just do the trick, and they taste a lot better than any pill.
A Little Dessert:
Sugar soothes us when we're stressed -- or at least it soothes stressed-out rats -- which are remarkably good models for stress in people. But before you race to the vending machine with a license to binge, know that while a little sugar may soothe rattled nerves, too much will re-rattle them by causing havoc with your blood sugar. Here are some treats that’ll give you just enough:
· A small slice of angel food cake with 1/2 cup of strawberries
· 2 Fig Newman cookies and a 6-ounce glass of juice
· Fast Fruit-and-Chocolate Fondue:
1 cup fresh strawberries
1 peeled, sliced kiwi
1/4 cup fat-free chocolate syrup
Dunk fruit into syrup, lean back, and smile!
Toast and Jam: "Carbs raise levels of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, which lifts our spirits," says Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Food & Mood. That’s why we crave bread and other carbohydrates when we're down. Opt for whole-wheat bread and other whole-grain carbs, because they also help stabilize blood sugar levels -- unlike refined grains (white bread, pasta, rice), which send blood sugar on a roller-coaster ride, leaving you jittery, grumpy, and hungry.
Get a happy serotonin boost from these snacks:
· Half a toasted whole-wheat English muffin or bagel with jam or honey
· A small bowl of oatmeal with some dried cranberries and a bit of brown sugar
· A comforting, creamy open-faced peach sandwich:
2 tablespoons fat-free cream cheese
1 teaspoon honey
1 peach, peeled and chopped
1 slice 100% whole-grain bread
1/2 teaspoon chopped walnuts
Blend cheese, honey, and chopped peaches; spread mixture on bread, and sprinkle with nuts. Yum!
