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6. Cake, pasta, and other high-carbohydrate foods can help some people feel calm.?
True. In some of the hyperactivity studies, sugary foods slightly relaxed some of the kids. Other evidence suggests that sugar or other high-carb foods-which the body converts to glucose, or simple sugar, in the blood-have a similar effect in adults. One possible explanation: High-carb foods can cause more of the amino acid tryptophan to reach the brain; that in turn can increase the level of serotonin, a nerve chemical that helps control mood.
In many people, however, the apparent ability of carbohydrates to improve mood may do more harm than good. That's because the effect seems to be greatest in people who binge on carbohydrate snacks to make themselves feel better. In such "carbohydrate cravers;' the expected mental uplift may encourage unhealthy eating patterns and cause weight gain. The key is to help those people identify other ways to get that emotional boost
Exercise can be one effective alternative. Bright-light therapy can sometimes help people who also suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or winter depression; which for unknown reasons often accompanies carb craving.
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