By Dr. Mehmet Oz

Throughout my life, I've found food to be powerful emotional medicine. I blast through stress by crunching on nuts and reach for a slice of German chocolate cake to put a smile on my face. A fresh burst of citrus leaves me feeling energized, while a glass of warm milk is a surefire way to settle down for sleep.

It should come as no surprise that food can have a noticeable effect on our moods, but it's more than just an association between, say, dessert and happiness--it's chemical. What we eat can trigger the release of neurotransmitters and hormones that influence everything from agitation to anger. So next time you find yourself in an emotional rut, you might just need a trip to the cupboard or fridge. For instance...

If You're Feeling Anxious

You can't always jet off to a tropical paradise when you need to relax, but you can channel some laid-back vibes by snacking on Brazil nuts. These nuts are loaded with selenium (just one ounce contains over 700 percent

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by Lexi Petroni, Glamour

Do you have anything that's stressing you out today? Before you get fully embroiled in all that Monday has to offer, consider this new research about a breakfast food that might help you conquer the day.

See more: 10 Things Girls Always Do in Movies and Never Do in Real Life

According to a study from the University of Cork, probiotic-rich yogurt may help stamp out stress, depression, and anxiety.

The researchers found that a regular diet including Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1), bacteria found in yogurt, may actually alter brain chemistry, causing the brain to release fewer stress hormones and reduce signs of stress and anxiety.

See more: 30 Reasons Being a Woman Is Awesome

And yes, the study was performed on mice--very relaxed mice, probably!--so take that for what it's worth, because experts aren't yet sure which probiotics are good for people. But there are lots of other health benefits that can come with a container of yogurt, like weight management, de

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By Nancy Gottesman

You have to live in dreamland if you want a good night's sleep, according to the usual expert advice: Make your bedroom into a spalike sanctuary. Don't drink a drop of caffeine after 2 p.m. No laptops in the bedroom. So we were shocked when sleep doctor Michael Breus, PhD, admitted that he drifts off with the TV on and his Chihuahua, Sparky, and cat, Monte, in the bed -- two major no-nos. His refreshing philosophy: "Steer clear of all the hard-and-fast rules and do what makes sense for your lifestyle." That we can handle. Read on for more surprising sleep tips that mere mortals like us can actually follow.

Related: The 10 Best and Worst Foods for Better Sleep

Sleep in on weekends.
Forget all the blah-blah about maintaining a consistent wakeup time every day. Snoozing late on the weekend can have real benefits. Adults who were sleep deprived for five days (sound like your workweek?) made up for it somewhat -- bouncing back closer to their baseline brain function a

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The path to beautiful skin just might be through your stomach. "When the body is out of balance, one of the first places it reveals itself is the skin," says Ruthie Harper, MD, a board-certified internist in Austin, TX, who specializes in nutritional medicine. "If you're not getting the right nutrients, skin gets cheated out of what it needs for optimal health and beauty." Learn to make the most of your body's skin-stomach connection with these 10 food fixes that give you a healthy, glowing complexion while warding off a host of skin conditions.

5 Signs Your Skin Is Stressed Out

1. Power up with probiotics
When the stomach's natural flora gets out of whack because of stress, infection, or a course of antibiotics, you may experience digestive ills and skin problems such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema, as well as dullness and wrinkles. "If your gut's bacteria balance is unfavorable, the toxic bacteria can leak through microscopic holes in the wall of your gastrointestinal tract and

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By Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D., Associate Nutrition Editor, EatingWell Magazine

There's a super-important nutrient that, chances are, you're not getting enough of: omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are a nutrient powerhouse, shown to improve heart health and mood. There are two kinds of omega-3s, in particular, that are important for overall health: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). "They are longer than other omega-3s (like alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA), so they make your cell membranes more fluid, which helps brain, eye and nerve cells function better," says Kantha Shelke, Ph.D., a spokesperson for the Institute of Food Technologists. Yet most Americans only get 100 mg a day of DHA/EPA, far short of the recommended 250 mg.

Must-Read: 4 Foods You Should Be Eating for Brain Power

All sorts of foods have been boasting omega-3s lately, from orange juice to bread. Amy Paturel, M.S., M.P.H., reported for EatingWell magazine on how to get more of these h

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