Superfoods to Help UNSTOPPABLE

As we flip the calendar to November, many of us experience the drain of darker, drearier days. To the rescue: Foods proven to deliver a 100% increase in energy, sunnier moods and more!

GINGER TEA BANISHES HUNGER PANGS

Reduced exposure to UV rays has been shown to increase hunger for up to 70 percent of women. A tasty fix: ginger tea. The sip is rich in gingerols, plant compounds that reduce the body’s production of hunger hormones. The effect is so powerful, according to research in the journal Metabolism, that drinking it with a meal increases satiety by 20 percent.

BELL PEPPERS CURB STRESS

Between the end of summer’s more relaxed days and the start of the hectic holiday season, stress levels start to rise. But German researchers report that enjoying 1 cup of red bell peppers daily helps women feel 33 percent calmer. Credit goes to a trio of nutrients in the crunchers that work synergistically to soothe the adrenal glands, reducing their output of stress hormones.

SWEET POTATOES ELEVATE MOOD

The genes that produce the mood-lifting hormone oxytocin become less active as winter approaches. To feel cheerier fast, reach for sweet potatoes. The spuds are one of nature’s top sources of vitamin A, a nutrient that prods the good-mood genes to work at peak efficiency. Enjoy 1 small baked sweet potato or ⁄2 cup mashed

1 to get the benefits deliciously.