Stress less with help from the right foods

You know the feeling: tense muscles, a knot in your stomach, maybe a headache. No matter how hard you try, being calm isn't in the cards. But the right (healthful!) foods often can help tame mindless munching and cravings and, better yet, actually lower overall anxiety and its symptoms. Here are a few favorites:

Dark chocolate: High in flavonoids, which are lauded for their relaxing properties (chamomile tea is another great source), chocolate also contains phenethylamine, a chemical that enhances your mood. The darker the chocolate, the more healthful substances you're getting in your diet.

Skim milk: One study found that women who drank four or more servings of low-fat or skim milk every day were about half as likely to experience stress-related PMS symptoms than those who drank less than one serving a week.

Oatmeal: Carbs help you produce serotonin, a calming hormone that helps fight anxiety's negative effects. Oatmeal is high in fiber, which means your body will absorb it slowly. In one fell swoop, you'll prolong the serotonin boost, keeping yourself feeling full for longer and making sure your blood sugar is in check.

Salmon: Research shows that its omega-3 fatty acids can help reverse stress symptoms by boosting serotonin levels and that an omega-3-rich diet can help suppress the production of the anxiety hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

Walnuts: They've been shown to help lower blood pressure, which is critical for those whose hearts are already working overtime, thanks to high adrenaline levels.

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