Calm your nerves

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Feeling stressed? Try eating some carbohydrates. They truly are a calming food. This is due to the effect on one's brain chemistry, not on blood sugar, as is often thought. People who are calm by nature can have blood sugar levels equally as high as people that are stressed can. In fact, one's blood sugar can be high even while asleep.

What causes the calming effect of carbohydrates is the ability they have to produce the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is what gives you a calm, relaxed feeling. Chocolate contains serotonin. For a longer lasting calming effect from the carbohydrates you eat, eat complex carbohydrates. Following is a list of some of the more commonly eaten foods that apply here:

Whole-wheat pasta with tomato sauce
Oatmeal
Popcorn
Bagels
Tortillas
Dry cereal with no milk
Lollipops

Vitamin B6 is necessary for producing serotonin, so be sure to eat foods with B6 in them. Eating these foods high in B6 will ensure that you have the tools for calming foods to do their work. The following foods are high in B6 and carbohydrates:

Bananas
Sweet potatoes
Potatoes
Raisins
Whole-grain cereal

Calcium is also known to reduce irritability and nervousness in women with premenstrual symptoms. Less nervousness means more calm. The effect of calcium absorption is not as immediate as that of eating high-carbohydrate foods but if taken regularly it can help. Try to get 1,200 mg spread out over the day, preferably in three doses. Calcium is best absorbed in small amounts.

Chamomile was used during the 1800s to calm hysteria. Today it is used for many things, including relieving stress and anxiety. It is also an anti-spasmodic and aids in relieving cramps and digestive problems associate with a nervous stomach. Add some honey to your chamomile tea to benefit from the calming effects of carbohydrates as well.

Have a healthy snack and calm down!