Friday, August 8, 2014

Bypass the Drive-Through Brain Drain

Fast food can bust your mood. And not just by eating it. It’s no secret that the crud in fast food is as bad for your brain as it is for your body. Well, researchers now tell us that just looking at a fast-food restaurant or its associated icons — like that grinning little girl with the pigtails, or the ubiquitous golden arches — can put a serious damper on your spirits.

How so? Think about it: The avowed mission of fast-food chains is to get you in the door and out again in a flash. So those big corporations spend millions of dollars quizzing focus groups and developing graphics, symbols, and architectural elements that convey a “Gotta hurry!” message to your subconscious mind. And boy, do they work!

Studies have found that living in an area that has a lot of fast-food restaurants can actually impair your ability to slow down and savor such simple joys as a beautiful sunset or a fragrant flower. That, in turn, can lead to unhappiness, stress, and anxiety — real fast.

So what’s the solution if you’re driving through a commercial zone that’s riddled with fast-food symbols? Turn your radio to an oldies station and belt out all the words to those old familiar songs. You’ll improve your mood, and before you know it, you’ll be out of brain-draining danger.

Then, when you get home, whip up this Marvelous Multi-Nutrient Smoothie. This tasty beverage delivers almost all of the vitamins and minerals that you need each day for tip-top health.

1 banana
1 cup of green grapes
1 cup of vanilla yogurt
½ apple, chopped (but not peeled)
1½ cups of fresh spinach
1 tbsp. of flaxseeds
1 cup of ice cubes


Add all of the ingredients to a blender in the order listed, and blend for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the contents are thoroughly liquefied and freely circulating. Then drink up, or pour the mixture into a travel cup and take it with you. 

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