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LAPLACE — Baked macaroni and cheese, oatmeal cookies, fried chicken, fried fish and butter pecan ice cream are foods that we might turn to when depressed or stressed over different things that we are facing in our lives.

To tell the truth, these only soothe our feelings for a short period of time, and then we start back at the beginning. Eating too much of a certain type of food or avoiding eating another type of food can affect our mood and our health in long and short term.

Instead of reaching for cookies or fried chicken, reach for an apple, pear or orange and spread some peanut butter or cream cheese on it. Eating this food will have a lasting affect and is healthy and good for the body. Normally, we eat something that is not healthy or good for us, and we become depressed and regret eating so much of that food. Another stress factor has been added to our lives.

Why not select foods that are healthy and nutritious, foods that add strength to our brains and enhance our emotional health?

Skipping meals or doing fad diets increases our chances of depression, which can lead to stress or health problems in our life. Please know and remember, diets do not work; they only help momentarily, and the weight comes back double. Changing your lifestyle of eating is not an option. It is a reality of overcoming stress and depression.

Resource: www.healthywomen.org