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Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Be a Loser With Me: Part 11 Don't worry, eat happy by Karin L. Nauber
Wouldnít it be nice if we could eat whatever we wanted to
and not gain weight? Wouldnít it be nice if we could eat sweets and not
feel guilty about them?
Actually, we shouldnít feel so guilty when we eat sugar. According to Realage.com, ìSugar soothes us when weíre stressed. But before you race to the vending machine with a license to binge, know that while a little sugar may soothe rattled nerves, too much will re-rattle them by causing havoc with your blood sugar.î The article suggested that a small slice of angel food cake with a ‡ cup of strawberries would be a treat that will give you what you need. The article also suggested eating one cup fresh strawberries, one peeled, sliced kiwi and one-quarter cup of fat-free chocolate syrup. Now dunk the fruit into the syrup, ìlean back and smile!î ìëCarbohydrates raise the levels of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, which lifts our spirits,í says Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Food & Mood. Thatís why we crave bread and other carbohydrates when weíre down.î The article further suggested that numerous studies have shown that getting more of the ìomega-3 fatty acid called DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in your diet may boost your mood and your brainpower. Even people battling tough-to-treat depression may feel as much as 50% better when they get lots of DHA. To keep your chin cheerfully up, aim for 200 milligrams (mg) of DHA a day.î Some sources for DHA come from certain brands of yogurts and eggs. You can also enjoy spinach which is full of folate, a B vitamin that is a must for making feel-good serotonin! You probably also have favorite types of foods that give you a boost or make you feel good. The caution, as with any food, is to eat in moderation. Mandatory weigh-in for the contest was Monday, May 12. I hope you all did well. Remember, even if the scale didnít show weight loss this time, that permanent weight loss is not measured in weeks, but often in months and the long-term goal for all of us is to be healthier for the long run, not just for next week or next month. When I was in college, my roommate was overweight. One day some people were teasing her (not very nice teasing, either). She could have probably beaten most of these anorexic-looking people down to nothing, but she used her mind instead of her fists. She said, ìI may be fat, but you are ugly and I can lose weight.î Just remember whenever you are feeling low, that we can always do something to better ourselves.
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