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  |  Basics  |  Pasta, rice & grains  |  Feed your head
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Feed your head

by Sue Gilbert
Stressed-out at work? Had enough of the kids? Reach for a calming, carbohydrate-loaded snack

Carbohydrates are nature’s chill pill because of their ability to effect brain chemistry. They produce the neurotransmitter serotonin that helps us feel peaceful and serene. Eat complex carbs as opposed to simple ones if you want a long-lasting tranquil effect.

Here’s a list of some of the best:

  • Wholewheat pasta topped with tomato sauce
  • Porridge
  • Popcorn
  • Bagels
  • Tortillas
  • Crisps
  • Rice cakes
  • Dry cereal with no milk

Vitamin B6 is needed to help manufacture serotonin. Eating foods high in B6 will ensure that you have the tools for calming foods to do their work. The following are high in B6 and carbohydrates:

  • Bananas
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Potatoes
  • Raisins
  • Wholegrain cereal

Camomile was used during the 1800s to calm hysteria. Today it is used for many things, including anxiety relief. Because it is also an anti-spasmodic, it helps relieve the cramps and digestive problems associated with a nervous stomach or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Add some honey to your camomile tea to benefit from the calming effects of carbohydrates as well.

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