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" Have you ever wondered if eating something in a time of high stress or anxiety can help you calm down and regroup? We already know that sugar and caffeine can make matters worse. So what foods actually help? The interesting answers...**** While it&amp;#x27;s never a good idea to eat just because you&amp;#x27;re feeling emotional (see what Karina over at Shape Up! had to say about her recent battle with emotional munching), you can make your meals count when you&amp;#x27;re feeling down, says Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. &amp;quot;Coping with anxiety can be difficult, and watching what you eat may play a role in making you feel better,&amp;quot; he explains. &amp;quot;Although food can&amp;#x27;t cure an anxiety disorder, eating a balanced diet and limiting or avoiding certain foods may help you feel better and improve your mood. It can also help you maintain a steady energy level throughout the day.&amp;quot; Try these steps, he says: *Eat frequent small meals. &amp;quot;This will help stabilize your blood sugar throughout the day,&amp;quot; he notes. *Low-carb? Nope. Have some bread. &amp;quot;Increase your intake of carbohydrates (starches). Carbohydrate-rich meals and snacks are thought to increase the amount of serotonin in your brain, which has a calming effect. Eat foods rich in complex carbohydrates (such as whole grains), and eat fewer simple carbohydrates (sugars).&amp;quot; *Drink plenty of water. &amp;quot;Even mild dehydration can affect your mood,&amp;quot; he reminds us. *Eat some tryptophan-rich foods. &amp;quot;Tryptophan helps your brain produce chemicals that improve mood and have a relaxing effect,&amp;quot; he explains. &amp;quot;Milk, bananas, oats, soy, poultry, cheese, nuts, peanut butter and sesame seeds are good sources of tryptophan.&amp;quot; (But, Vitamin G readers already know about the power of bananas.) P.S. I&amp;#x27;d add to this list: One square of perfect chocolate. What foods make you happy? More stress-busters from Vitamin G: *I tried this high-tech stress-reducer. *The most stressful part of the day for most people, and what you can do about it. Photo: iStock"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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