Here’s what you should – and shouldn’t - reach for the next time you’ve got a case of the crankies. Courtesy of Ladies Home Journal.

• Yogurt. A recent study from the Netherlands found that whey – a protein in dairy products – can boost your memory when you’re stressed. Which is important because stress hurts your memory. Also, the protein in yogurt will stabilize your blood sugar so you don’t get cranky.
• Chocolate. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found that chocolate boosts your body’s production of feel-good chemicals and activates the pleasure centers in your brain – both of which can help you calm down. But only chow down on one or two pieces – knowing you ate 400 calories worth of chocolate will only create more stress. And stick to the dark stuff – it’s packed with disease-fighting antioxidants.
• Sugarless Gum. Studies show that popping a piece of gum increases the brain’s release of alpha waves. And those are what your body generates when it’s relaxed. Also, chewing gum may also improve your memory. Why? Experts think it’s because constant chewing helps increase blood flow to your brain

Ok – now you know what you should eat when you’re stressed, but here are a couple of things you shouldn’t reach for when you’re frazzled:

• Alcohol. Stress depletes your body of B vitamins. However, your body needs B vitamins to metabolize alcohol. So drinking when you’re stressed will only make things worse – because your body won’t be able to handle the alcohol.
• Pretzels. They’re full of white, unrefined carbs, which only cause a temporary spike in your blood sugar. That means you’ll feel good for about an hour, then your energy levels will come crashing down. So skip ‘em.