Soothe stress & help your heart

Excess belly fat along with high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol are health sappers in and of themselves.

- Melissa Gotthardt

But metabolic syndrome, which is marked by having three of more of these conditions, is an added concern. Why? It can increase risk of heart disease and stroke. Luckily, Ohio State University research suggests nixing chronic stress curbs tension-induced inflammation to outsmart metabolic syndrome. To restore calm...

Savor grilled chicken skewers

Or bite into a tuna melt. Both poultry and tuna are packed with an amino acid known as tryptophan. That's key, since investigators reporting in the journal Archives of Psychiatric Nursing found that folks who enjoyed tryptophan-rich diets lowered their stress levels within four days. Experts explain tryptophan gets converted into serotonin, a feelgood chemical messenger that helps keep a lid on stress. Other tasty foods that deliver tryptophan: bananas, peanuts, prunes and cheddar cheese.

Relax with an iced tea break