The term comfort food is a bit of a misnomer. We indulge in stuff like milkshakes and cheeseburgers to soothe ourselves, but they can actually have the opposite effect once they pass our lips—and it’s not just because our clothes feel distressingly tighter.
According to researchers who have studied the link, fast food and packaged pastries can cause inflammation that interferes with mood-regulating chemicals in the brain and can even lead to symptoms of depression.
Fortunately, there are plenty of yummy and satisfying options that will buoy your mood and slim you down.
Read the article in the January/February 2014 issue of Women’s Health magazine or online at WomensHealthMag.com