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Houston's premier web resource for moms!
Bridget Leigh Pugh is a wife, Stay-at-Home
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
"The trick is to know where the
Healthy Houston Hot Spots are and
what to get when you are there."
Healthy Houston Hot Spots are and
what to get when you are there."
Want to cook healthy for your family but you're
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
Chill Out! Foods that Cause Stress and Those
That Calm Your Nerves
Did you know that the food choices you make today can make you more or
less equipped to deal with stress tomorrow? It’s true- for both moms and
their children. While treats and splurges are a joyful, rewarding part of life,
many families take sugary sweets too far by offering them daily, or sip on
caffeinated drinks throughout the day without a care. These daily negative
food and drink choices can lead to a body depleted of nutrients, leaving it
open to cave under pressure and stress.
On the brighter side, certain foods can increase a family’s resilience through
tons of body-boosting nutrients! This article outlines a list of stress-agitating
food that, if eaten in large quantities, can actually lessen one’s chance of
keeping their cool. Then Mom, you’ll learn about all sorts of positive food
choices to soothe stressed-out nerves.
Stress Agitators: Many moms hear all about the following foods from health
care professionals, and yet American families still seem to go overboard
with sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and trans fatty acids. During times of stress,
the body releases Cortisol, a stress hormone that in turn sends a signal to
the brain that sparks hunger for fatty and sugary foods. This explains why
you might eye those candy bars in the checkout line after a stressful trip to
the grocery store with a buggy full of toddlers—it’s a stressed-out body’s
chemical reaction!
Trans fatty acids are most likely the worst substance for stress, and they
exist in most fast foods. Trans fatty acids reduce circulation and raise blood
pressure immediately, sending your body into a constant state of stress.
Just a tiny bit of trans fat will cause these negative side effects, so Mom, limit
(or even better eliminate) fast foods and head home for a healthy lunch.
The big problem with sugar is the crash, and this affects both adults and
children. While sugar initially increases Serotonin (the “Happy Hormone”), it
is just temporary. Got an out of control toddler? Think back to what they last
ate and the result is usually sugary, highly processed starches. If you, Mom,
are feeling irritable and less patient, look at your diet within the last few
hours, and sugar or white starch is usually the culprit again. Little bodies,
and many grown bodies as well, just can’t handle large amounts of sugary
sweet foods without major crashes. Keep sugar down to a fun, guilt-free
treat once a week and enjoy!
The same “crash” issue goes for caffeine. If you’re like most moms, you
probably can’t imagine starting your day without a jolt of coffee or Diet Coke!
Here’s the major issue with caffeine: “It’s putting a stimulant that makes
people feel jittery and wired into a body that’s already tending to be jittery and
wired” says Dr. Victoria Maizes of University of Arizona. Counter the negative
effects of caffeine by including it in a balanced meal before noon and
replacing one cup of caffeinated drinks each day with green tea.
Alcohol comes in a close second to trans fatty acids for stress agitation.
Alcohol is a well-known depressant which very simply slows down your
mind and ability to cope well under pressure. Alcohol also throws the body’
s equilibrium out of balance which releases stress hormones. Reap the
antioxidant benefits of red wine without the negative effects on stress by
keeping it to one glass of red wine with dinner to help balance blood sugar,
which wine has a tendency to upset.
Stress Soothers: Now that you know which foods and drinks make you less
able to be calm and patient during times of stress, you can now choose
foods that soothe the mind and body. The following chart explains each
stress-soothing nutrient, where to find them in food, and why each can help
That Calm Your Nerves
Did you know that the food choices you make today can make you more or
less equipped to deal with stress tomorrow? It’s true- for both moms and
their children. While treats and splurges are a joyful, rewarding part of life,
many families take sugary sweets too far by offering them daily, or sip on
caffeinated drinks throughout the day without a care. These daily negative
food and drink choices can lead to a body depleted of nutrients, leaving it
open to cave under pressure and stress.
On the brighter side, certain foods can increase a family’s resilience through
tons of body-boosting nutrients! This article outlines a list of stress-agitating
food that, if eaten in large quantities, can actually lessen one’s chance of
keeping their cool. Then Mom, you’ll learn about all sorts of positive food
choices to soothe stressed-out nerves.
Stress Agitators: Many moms hear all about the following foods from health
care professionals, and yet American families still seem to go overboard
with sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and trans fatty acids. During times of stress,
the body releases Cortisol, a stress hormone that in turn sends a signal to
the brain that sparks hunger for fatty and sugary foods. This explains why
you might eye those candy bars in the checkout line after a stressful trip to
the grocery store with a buggy full of toddlers—it’s a stressed-out body’s
chemical reaction!
Trans fatty acids are most likely the worst substance for stress, and they
exist in most fast foods. Trans fatty acids reduce circulation and raise blood
pressure immediately, sending your body into a constant state of stress.
Just a tiny bit of trans fat will cause these negative side effects, so Mom, limit
(or even better eliminate) fast foods and head home for a healthy lunch.
The big problem with sugar is the crash, and this affects both adults and
children. While sugar initially increases Serotonin (the “Happy Hormone”), it
is just temporary. Got an out of control toddler? Think back to what they last
ate and the result is usually sugary, highly processed starches. If you, Mom,
are feeling irritable and less patient, look at your diet within the last few
hours, and sugar or white starch is usually the culprit again. Little bodies,
and many grown bodies as well, just can’t handle large amounts of sugary
sweet foods without major crashes. Keep sugar down to a fun, guilt-free
treat once a week and enjoy!
The same “crash” issue goes for caffeine. If you’re like most moms, you
probably can’t imagine starting your day without a jolt of coffee or Diet Coke!
Here’s the major issue with caffeine: “It’s putting a stimulant that makes
people feel jittery and wired into a body that’s already tending to be jittery and
wired” says Dr. Victoria Maizes of University of Arizona. Counter the negative
effects of caffeine by including it in a balanced meal before noon and
replacing one cup of caffeinated drinks each day with green tea.
Alcohol comes in a close second to trans fatty acids for stress agitation.
Alcohol is a well-known depressant which very simply slows down your
mind and ability to cope well under pressure. Alcohol also throws the body’
s equilibrium out of balance which releases stress hormones. Reap the
antioxidant benefits of red wine without the negative effects on stress by
keeping it to one glass of red wine with dinner to help balance blood sugar,
which wine has a tendency to upset.
Stress Soothers: Now that you know which foods and drinks make you less
able to be calm and patient during times of stress, you can now choose
foods that soothe the mind and body. The following chart explains each
stress-soothing nutrient, where to find them in food, and why each can help