Squash stress with melon and veggies

I don’t know about you, but I’m not one of those people who “just can’t eat” when she’s stressed. Au contraire: Although I’m likely to lace up my jogging shoes and go for a run, I’m also prone to indulging in a piece of chocolate or three to soothe my frazzled nerves.

I’m hardly alone. A recent study from Montclair State University shows that most women report eating in order to cope with stress, and a large percentage of men do, too. Interestingly, the same study revealed that women who try to limit themselves to a super-healthy diet are more likely to go overboard on “bad” foods–think potato chips, ice cream and candy bars–when they’re anxious. (I’m chalking this up as further proof that you shouldn’t put any item entirely off-limits).

Now, it’s true that if chowing down is your go-to tension tamer and you’ve got a relatively stressful life (as most of us do), you’re going to see the numbers on the scale shoot up in no time. But it turns out that certain foods may actually be effective at squashing stress. In a new double-blind randomized study, French researchers found that people who took 10 mg of melon juice (extracted from a variety of melons) daily for four weeks experienced a marked decline in feelings of stress and fatigue. The researchers believe that the rich antioxidants present in melons may be responsible for the benefits.

Another study from Tufts University found that volunteers who ate vegetables, in the form of two bowls of gazpacho daily, for two weeks experienced a significant decrease in stress molecules—the same molecules that can lead to health problems like heart disease.

I haven’t tried this yet–but given that both melon and veggies are low in calories and good for you, I think I’ll be piling my plate with both the next time I have a rough day.

–Camille