Find yourself questioning decisions you made – or feel like you’re constantly consumed with doubt? You’re not alone – many of us go through it from time to time, but when does constant worrying about what others think go away.

Well…when you turn 46.

A new study shows that it takes us a while to get over insecurities. Appearance is the first thing we accept, and that’s usually in our mid-30s for both men and women. After that, our career paths are next, and that’s not until we hit 40.

What takes so long? Well, it’s usually things like the desire to fit in and not make waves and just go with the flow. The confidence to being unapologetically ourselves doesn’t come right away – it takes time.

It also takes things becoming a parent, or our personal finance levels reaching a more stable point, and for many others, it takes retirement to feel confident.

So, if you’re still dealing with insecurities and worrying about what others think, you could either wait a while for it to go away on its own, or make an active effort not to worry about what others think and do what makes you feel good!

Image Credit: fizkes / iStock / Getty Images Plus

It’s not wise to skip meals, but it happens from time to time. And then the inevitable happens when you feel “hangry” – and the angrier you get, the hungrier you get, and it only gets worse. But what, exactly, is happening?

Believe it or not, there’s your stomach and your brain are connected. The hunger feeling sends a signal to your brain, and if you don’t start eating soon, the signals continue and get stronger.

Plus, your blood sugar drops when you don’t eat, and that makes you stressed, and your serotonin levels drop. And that’s when you get “hangry.”

There are some foods you may want to snack on if you’re worried about potentially missing a meal:

Vegetables like carrots, celery, and cucumber; chickpeas; Greek yogurt; berries; and almonds. They’ll keep you fuller than other snacks, and you’ll be able to avoid getting “hangry.”

Image Credit: Grandbrothers / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Losing weight is difficult – it takes a lot of effort over a long time. The objective is to eat fewer calories, but simply trying to avoid excess calories rarely works. Keeping track of everything you eat and drink and adding them up is a necessary step to take. And keeping a food diary might be helpful.

Studies show it trains you to be mindful of what you consume and helps adjust behavior. But many of us find it annoying and time consuming, so we won’t try.

However, smartphones and food-logging apps allow for a much easier way to record meals. A new study showed that those who were diligent found greater success, losing 5-10% of bodyweight over the course of six months.

For the best chance of success, researchers say log food right after you eat, rather than at the end of the day, and you’ll have a better idea of your daily calorie balance.

Image Credit: fabrycs / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Whether you’re someone who feels anxious or not, we all could use something from time-to-time that would help make us feel like we’re in more control.

Support from friends and family or professionals, and living a healthy lifestyle are all ways to help manage our anxiety – but one nutritional psychiatrist says a beverage is the just the trick for her. That beverage is a “golden latte.”

Sometimes it’s called golden milk, others refer to it as a turmeric latte – but no matter what it’s called, this milk-based beverage seasoned with spices, has some science-backed mood-enhancing benefits. Turmeric is both an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory effects, which helps as many cases of depression have a base in inflammation. It can also increase serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain.

You probably already have all the ingredients in your cupboard and fridge now – it’s a mix of almond milk, turmeric powder, raw honey, that’s all heated and then topped with nutmeg.

Easy, tasty, and might just do the trick to help alleviate some anxiety!

Image Credit: AntonioGuillem / iStock / Getty Images Plus

You’ve like heard that “you are what you eat” – and that may be truer than ever before. There’s always been a link between diet and mood, but a new study shows specifically the foods that affect our mental health:

• Too much fast food is already bad for our physical health, and your mental health naturally follows suit.

• The study looked at caffeine – it gives a jolt of energy, but anxiety has been found to be a common side effect of being over-caffeinated.

• Your mood also gets affected by high-glycemic foods, because they’ll give you both blood sugar spikes, as well as inevitable crashes.

• The study also showed that while these four factors affect both men and women, the level of mental stress was found to be higher for women.

But it’s not only bad news – regular exercise can also reduce and counteract the negative consequences, and specific foods like fruits and vegetables had positive effects on mental health.

Whenever making a diet change, it’s wise to consult a professional first, but taking the right steps towards a better diet and more regular movement might give you the mood boost you’ve been looking for!

Image Credit: Zinkevych / iStock / Getty Images Plus