If you had the choice to feel like a light and colorfully vibrant fruit salad, or a heavy bowl of lifeless pasta, which would you choose?
It may be cliche, but it really is true that you are what you eat. If you want to feel light, happy and full of life, then it only makes sense to eat foods that help you feel that way.
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Studies show that some foods make us feel calm, while others get us temporarily stimulated and fuel not-so-good feelings like anxiety and stress, potentially leading to a depressed mood.
Unfortunately, most go-to comfort foods really aren't comforting at all because they feed the opposite of how you really want to feel.
Here are four foods to avoid if you're feeling stressed or are prone to anxiety and panic attacks.
Alcohol
Some would argue that it's alcohol that puts the "happy" in happy hour, but the buzz is only temporary.
Alcohol may feel like it's the thing you need after a long, stressful day, but remember that alcohol is a depressant.
It is also a diuretic, and becoming dehydrated can also alter your mood for the worse. To keep your mood in check and stay properly hydrated, reach for a glass of water instead.
READ: Natural Remedies For Depression
White flour
White flour, as you know, has been processed and stripped of its most fiber-rich layers-its germ and bran.
And, because white flour is refined and is missing its outer layer, it gets digested quickly and absorbed quickly into the bloodstream, causing rises in blood sugar levels. That releases cortisol into the body, causing stress.
This stress gets compounded when you add in the fact that most of the time, the white flour is in some carbohydrate (breads, sweets, etc) that usually add to your weight and put unwanted stress on your heart and other organs.
Coffee/Caffeine
You would think that a good cup of coffee would mellow you out, right? Wrong.
Coffee and other caffeinated beverages like tea and soft drinks are usually consumed to get an energy boost, but studies show that caffeine inhibits serotonin in the brain and when serotonin is suppressed, you can become irritable and depressed.
If stress and worry keep you up at night, caffeine will also keep you awake when you should be sleeping, making you more stressed and anxious.
And like alcohol, caffeine is also a diuretic that can lead to dehydration.
READ: The Right Amount of Caffeine Is...
Your Favorite Candy
The sugar rush from candy and sweets (and sweeteners like table sugar and honey) is also only a temporary high.
Your body will absorb the sugar quickly and also increase the production of insulin to remove it. This will leave you feeling tired, making it easier to fall into a depressed mood.
Processed Foods
Research shows that eating a diet high in processed foods like hot dogs, cakes and sausage increased the risk of depression.
If the food has had all of the life manipulated and taken out of it, it will do the same once it's in your body. Whole foods, like fruits and vegetables, are best for a good mood.
Remember: You get out of your body what you put in.
Visit the BlackDoctor.org Food center for more.
