'Tis the Season...
Words that come to mind when envisioning the holidays: Love, family, giving. The reality? Frantic, last-minute trips to the mall, cooking for guests, and eating on the fly leave us stressed and miserable, opening the doors to unfriendly clashes with family members, overeating, and even depression. Luckily, the right foods can snap you back into a healthy mind frame, making it easy to shake off holiday stress.
"Holidays are a challenging time, and you want to do everything you can to prevent things from boiling over," says Drew Ramsey, MD, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and coauthor of The Happiness Diet.
The following 7 foods can do it…
Like this? Sign up for The Daily Fix and get more food news delivered daily to your inbox!
« Prev
Slide 1/8
Next »
Full-Fat Latte
Crisis Averted: Low blood sugar at the mall
Anti-Meltdown Tool: Has your shopping marathon left you flustered, light-headed, and on the run with low blood sugar? An energy drink seems like the obvious solution, but giving in to that means you're setting yourself up for a crash later on.
Plus, the empty calories could lead to overeating after your energy rush subsides. The milk in a full-fat latte is comparable in sugar to a healthy apple, but the fat profile means you'll feel full and more satiated.
Read More: The Best Energy-Boosting Foods & Drinks
« Prev
Slide 2/8
Next »
Kale
Crisis Averted: A major pigout
Anti-Meltdown Tool: If it feels like desserts and excess calories are closing in on you like an enemy on the battlefield, alleviate the temptation for a holiday binge by working kale into your meals.
A low-calorie but naturally satiating food, kale is considered one of the most nutrient-dense veggies on the plant. It's loaded with fiber that helps your body feel full longer.
Read More: 6 Superfoods You're Not Eating
« Prev
Slide 3/8
Next »
Saint-John's-Wort Tea
Crisis Averted: Holiday blues
Anti-Meltdown Tool: One of the most studied antidepressants, the herb Saint-John's-wort harbors potent molecules that could crush holiday blues.
One caveat? It doesn't mix well with other antidepressant drugs and could make birth control pills less effective, so happiness-boosting vitamin E-rich foods such as almonds may be a safer way improve mood, Dr. Ramsey suggests.
Learn More: Tap into the secrets of The Happiness Diet.
« Prev
Slide 4/8
Next »
Lemon Macaroons
Crisis Averted: Repeat trips to the dessert table
Anti-Meltdown Tool: Over-ambitiousness in the desserts department during the holidays leads to empty-calorie overload, weight gain, inflammation, and bad moods. Instead, satisfy your sweet tooth with homemade lemon macaroons.
The Happiness Diet recipe is a medium-chain-fat dessert, thanks to the coconut, resulting in improved calorie burn. Choose eggs from pastured hens for a mood-boosting omega-3 jolt. "Lemon macaroons have a completely different nutrient profile than sugar cookies with frosting," says Dr. Ramsey.
Read More: Lemon Macaroon Recipe
« Prev
Slide 5/8
Next »
Dark Chocolate
Crisis Averted: Mindless holiday spending
Anti-Meltdown Tool: Everyone is fearful of those final days of shopping when they're weary and set up to make irrational, emotional decisions. To stay focused when you head out the door for last-minute trip to the stores, arm yourself with a bit of organic dark chocolate or a coffee.
Known as Mother Nature's natural stimulants, these foods are linked to vascular brain health. Now, take a deep breath and refrain from buying that holiday fruitcake.
Read More: 21 Ways to Feed Your Brain
« Prev
Slide 6/8
Next »
Mackerel
Crisis Averted: A family brawl
Anti-Meltdown Tool: Yo-yo mood swings are common around the holidays, threatening to turn friendly family debates into debacles. The mood-stabilizing properties of fatty fish are a Christmas food must, thanks to vitamin D and brain-soothing omega-3s.
Just opt for Atlantic wild mackerel to avoid contaminants like mercury. If you don't like the flavor of mackerel, pair it with ginger to tone down the fishiness or opt for wild-caught Alaskan salmon or sardines.
Read More: 12 Fish You Should Never Eat
« Prev
Slide 7/8
Next »
Beef Roast
Crisis Averted: Seasonal stress
Anti-Meltdown Tool: Working a beef roast into your December meal plan will increase your levels of mood-stabilizing B12, a necessary element for a stable mood, says Dr. Ramsey, noting that low vitamin B12 levels are linked to irritability and depression. Look for grass-fed beef for the best nutritional profile.
Add folate-rich beet greens, kale, or Swiss chard to the meal to keep your brain's neurotransmitters pleased.
Like this? Sign up for The Daily Fix and get more food news delivered daily to your inbox!
« Prev
Slide 8/8
Next »
Facebook
Twitter
