Stress Eating

We've all done it - have a bad day, come home and jump in the chips and dip or a bag of cookies in front of the TV, and just pray there is something on that's good enough that we can forget about whatever happened. However, these kinds of food just add to your level of stress in the long run - simple, sugary, high-carbohydrate junk food may intially give you a boost, but ends up causing you to be more sluggish; it's usually higher in salt, causing you to feel puffy and bloated, and all of it leads to weight gain, which has never been known to help anything (at least as far as I know!). Honestly, the best thing you can do is to fix yourself a healthy meal with some lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and a lot of vegetables (green, yellow, and orange). The protein and carbohydrates will stabilize your blood sugar and give you some tryptophan - an amino acid that will calm you down. The vegetables help your body to release seratonin, a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood, appetite and sleep. By doing this, you'll wake up the next morning to a new day, well rested and feeling better about things. Start your day with a breakfast of orange juice, oatmeal, an egg and a cup of coffee (not too much or you'll get all jittery and be in the same boat you were in last night!!) - this is a perfect anti-stress meal to begin your day, and follow it with several small meals to maintain your blood sugar and self-control throughout the day. And...don't forget your workout! Melissa