Why Your Tummy and Your Mood Are Best Friends. 🧠🍎

​Have you ever felt "butterflies" in your stomach when you’re nervous? Or maybe you get "hangry" (hungry + angry) when you haven't eaten in a while?

​There is a big reason for that: Your brain and your stomach are constantly talking to each other. When we eat things that make our bodies happy, our minds usually feel calmer. But when we eat things that make our energy go up and down like a rollercoaster, we can start to feel worried, upset, or anxious.

​🎢 The Sugar Rollercoaster

​Imagine you eat a giant bowl of sugary cereal or a bag of candy.

• ​The High: You get a huge burst of energy! You feel like you can run a mile.
• ​The Crash: Shortly after, your energy drops fast. This is when your brain sends out an "emergency" signal.

​For many of us, that "emergency" signal feels like anxiety. Your heart might beat faster, and you might feel cranky or upset without knowing why. To keep your mood steady, we want to stay off the rollercoaster and keep our energy on a smooth, flat road.

​🥦 Brain Power Foods

​If you want to feel calmer and more focused, try adding these "Mood Heroes" to your plate:

1. ​The "Slow" Carbs: Foods like oats, brown rice, and sweet potatoes give you energy that lasts for hours instead of minutes.
2. ​Healthy Fats: Your brain is actually made of mostly fat! Eating things like avocados, nuts, and fish helps your brain cells talk to each other better.
3. ​Crunchy Greens: Spinach and broccoli have magnesium, which is like a "natural chill pill" for your muscles and nerves.
4. ​Happy Gut Foods: Yogurt or pickles help the good bugs in your tummy. These bugs actually help create the "happy chemicals" (like Serotonin) that make you feel good!

​🌟 Three Tiny Challenges for Today

​Whether you are 7 or 51, these three things can help you feel better by dinner time:

• ​Drink a "Big Human" glass of water: Dehydration makes everyone grumpy!
• ​Add a color: Try to put one green, red, or orange vegetable on your plate.
• ​The "Slow Down" Rule: Take three deep breaths before you start eating. It tells your brain, "Hey, we’re safe, we can relax now."

​What’s one food that always makes you feel energized and happy? Let us know in the comments!