iBabble

Understanding the U.S.

You live in Arizona when…

1 You are willing to park 3 blocks away because you found shade. 
2. You can open and drive your car without touching the car door or the steering wheel. 
3. You know that the “dry heat” outside is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door.
4. You would give anything to be able to splash cold water on your face. 
5. You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top. 
6. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food.

You Live in California when…

1. You make over $250,000 and you still can’t afford to buy a house. 
2 The high school quarterback calls a time-out to answer his cell phone. 
3. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway. 
4. You know how to eat an artichoke. 
5. You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party.
6. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather than how many miles away it is.

You Live in New York City when…

1. You say “the city” and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan. 
2. You have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. 
3 You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park, but can’t find Wisconsin on a map. 
4. You think Central Park is “nature,” 
5. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual. 
6. You’ve worn out a car horn. 
7. You think eye contact is an act of aggression.

You Live in Maine when…

1. You only have four spices: salt, pepper, ketchup, and Tabasco. 
2. Halloween costumes fit over parkas. 
3. You have more than one recipe for moose. 
4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons. 
5. The four seasons are: winter, still winter, almost winter, and construction.

You Live in the Deep South when…

1. You can rent a movie and buy bait in the same store. 
2.”ya’ll” is singular and “all all” is plural. 
3. After five years you still hear, “You ain’t from ‘round here, are Ya?” 
4. “He needed killin’ ” is a valid defense. 
5. Everyone has 2 first names: Billy Bob, Jimmy Bob, Mary Sue, Betty Jean, MARY BETH, etc.

You live in Colorado when…

1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car. 
2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home and he stops at the day care center 
3. A pass does not involve a football or dating. 
4. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail.

You live in the Midwest when…

1. You’ve never met any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name.
2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor. 
3. You have had to switch from “heat” to “A/C” on the same day. 
4. You end sentences with a preposition: “Where’s my coat at?” 
5. When asked how your trip was to any exotic place, you say, “It was different!”

You live in Florida when….

1. You eat dinner at 3:15 in the afternoon. 
2. All purchases include a coupon of some kind — even houses and cars. 
3 Everyone can recommend an excellent dermatologist. 
4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state. 
5. Cars in front of you are often driven by headless people.

Ten Foods That Will Improve Your Mood

There are lots of foods that bring a smile to my face—cookies, veggie burritos, and peanut butter oatmeal (trust me, it’s delicious) are just a few. But it turns out some foods don’t just please the palate; they stimulate the brain and make us physically happy, too. When we need a little pick-me-up, we should skip the cookies (as yummy as they are, the sugar rush destabilizes our moods) and seek out these foods instead.

Spinach
This leafy green is loaded with the B vitamin folate, which has been linked to depression when levels are too low. B vitamins help the brain produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood and behavior.

Turkey
Turkey’s full of tryptophan, an amino acid that the body uses to create mood-regulating serotonin and melatonin. Since our bodies don’t produce tryptophan naturally, we must get it from food sources. For a non-poultry vehicle for the amino acid, try pineapple, cottage cheese, or lobster.

Walnuts
Researchers at the Massachusetts based McLean Hospital found that rats’ moods improved when given an injection of omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts and ground flaxseeds (they have to be ground for the body to absorb the nutrients) are the best non-animal source of omega-3s.

Milk/Non-Dairy Milk
Milk products and vitamin-fortified non-dairy products (soy milk, almond milk, etc.) are rich in vitamin D, which can increase serotonin production and has been linked to reducing depression in some people. A 2008 study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine found that vitamin D alleviated some depressive symptoms.

Soy
Like turkey, soy products such as tofu and edamame have high levels of tryptophan. Soybeans also rank low on the glycemic index, meaning they don’t spike energy levels too quickly and won’t cause a mood crash later.

Salmon
If you’re not a vegetarian, the best way to get a good dose of omega-3s into your diet is through salmon. Not a fan of salmon? Tuna and herring boast a decent amount of the fatty acids as well.

Beans
Protein- and fiber-filled legumes like black beans and lentils are also packed with iron, an essential mineral that combats lethargy and gives us energy.

Chocolate
Few people would frown after popping a square of chocolate into their mouths, but it’s not just because it tastes so good—chocolate causes the brain to release endorphins and can boost serotonin levels and it contains compounds, like phenylethylamine, that act as mild stimulants. However, plain old milk chocolate won’t do; opt for 70 percent dark chocolate to ensure maximum health benefits.

Carbohydrates
Foods rich in carbohydrates also affect serotonin levels in the body, but simple carbs—those with white flour as the primary ingredient—increase insulin production so rapidly that the feel-good vibes we get after ingesting them quickly turn into grumpiness. Stick to whole grains like oats, brown rice, and whole wheat bread, all of which contain B vitamins as well.

Bananas
Besides being a potassium powerhouse, eating bananas adds a hefty amount of tryptophan to our diets. In a study at Oxford University, researchers found that women recovering from depression who were deficient in tryptophan had a higher chance of regressing back to depressive states. Bananas are a great source of iron, too.

What makes certain foods mood-elevating seems based on whether they contain essential ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids, tryptophan, vitamin D, or B vitamins. Unfortunately, what we crave when we’re depressed usually isn’t flaxseeds or salmon. Our cravings are usually in the form of French fries and donuts, foods that comfort us briefly but make us feel even more sluggish and moody afterward. But if we learn to reach for these mood-boosting foods instead, maybe we can banish the blues before they even start.

By: Vicki Santillano