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Low carb foods can be mood boosters

This soy ceviche tostada is a good low carb food for mood boosting

For low carb foods to be mood boosters, they need to be the right kind.  If thoughts of low carb ice cream, cookies and soft drinks come to mind, think again. Also, this is not about low carb snack foods that are usually lacking in any real nutrition.  To understand more clearly, it helps to know how certain nutrients affect the brain and nervous system.

Let’s say you’ve got an important business presentation and your nervous about standing up in front of a group.  Which of these is a good low carb food choice to calm anxiety?

A.  A diet soda with aspartame or saccharin
B. A bowl of cereal with milk
C. A handful of Gummy Bears
D. A healthy, low carb drink

Believe it or not, C is a correct answer for a quick fix that’s not very healthy in the long run.  In some people, sugar from candy acts as a short energy boost followed by a quick drop, while others go straight to the crash.  How high carb foods act as sedatives, according to experts, could be due to complicated biochemical reactions.  One theory is that carbs clear the way for the brain to receive more tryptophan, an amino acid that gets converted into serotonin, which helps the body relax.

Actually, a healthy, low carb drink (D) is the best choice.  This is because liquids are digested more rapidly and absorbed right away. Assuming that the low carb health drink is made with natural ingredients, including whole foods with complex carbohydrates, then the most calming effect will be gained.

A bowl of cereal with milk is a poor choice because mixing protein with carbohydrates reduces the calming properties.  Drinking a diet soda with artificial sweeteners is the worst choice.  Low carb diet foods and drinks that contain aspartame and saccharin do anything but calm the brain and nervous system.  Avoiding these chemical ingredients in low carb foods or drinks is always a good idea, but especially when trying to relax.

The bottom line is that when it’s time to calm down, the choices are high carb foods like potatoes, pasta, breads and other starches, or natural low carb foods that will be more beneficial.  Not only will the brain and nervous system get quick anxiety reduction, the body will run better on complex carbohydrates it can use for long lasting energy.

For more info:  Low Carb Foods List - 10 Choices For an All Natural Low Carb Diet

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