Eating healthy is one step in becoming more productive. The brain needs good nutrients to function well just as a car needs fuel to run. A study found that if you eat unhealthy, you will be 66 percent less productive. Eating the right food ensures that your brain has the right ingredients for you to be constructive. So instead of relying on caffeine for energy, a good dose of fruits and veggies should provide the right amount of motivation.

While ice cream and chocolate might be way to cheer yourself up, sources say that eating more healthy foods increases a person’s happiness. Many foods such as almonds, pumpkin seeds, blueberries, and bananas contain higher amounts of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is a mood booster. So instead of having chips or cookies for a snack, these foods would be a better choice.

Other foods can help lower stress. Studies have found that food that is packed with Vitamin C and magnesium help reduce cortisol levels when the body is stressed; it breaks down a lot of protein. Cortisol is an important hormone in the body, secreted by the adrenal glands. Cortisol is known as the ‘stress hormone” because stress activates cortisol. Eating protein rich diets such as fish and dairy can help control cortisol levels.

While it may not affect everyone now, eating the right foods can help a person age better. Fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants which protect the skin. The antioxidants in fresh berries and salmon’s omega-3 fatty acids can both help increase the health of skin and help prevent premature aging.

As many know, there are many risk factors for a person if they eat unhealthy. Over the long term, eating the wrong foods raises a person’s risk of obesity, heart disease cancer, and diabetes. Some estimate that at least 30 percent of cancers are linked to poor diet. According to a study of more than 6,000 thousand women, women who ate cabbage, turnips, broccoli, cauliflower and kale in their diet had a lower risk of developing breast cancer.

Here are some yummy healthy recipes:

Green Pasta with Tomatoes:

• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans Italian-style diced tomatoes
• 1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 10 ounces fresh spinach, washed and chopped

• 8 ounces penne pasta
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Meanwhile, combine tomatoes and beans in a large skillet. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Add spinach to the sauce; cook for 2 minutes or until spinach wilts, stirring constantly. Serve sauce over pasta, and sprinkle with feta.

Ham and Potato Soup

• 3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
• 1/3 cup diced celery
• 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
• 3/4 cup diced cooked ham
• 3 1/4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules

• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk

Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper. In a separate saucepan, melt butter. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk. Continue stirring for 5 minutes. Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately.