Some Guilty Pleasures are Good for You

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By Melissa Castleman

Treating yourself to a little indulgence now and then will banish stress and soothe the soul.

"Go ahead, indulge." Those are three spirit-lifting words you don't expect to hear from your doctor. But more and more physicians agree that certain guilty pleasures don't just make you feel better, they also can be good for your heart.

The sensation of pleasure has a calming effect on the body, reducing your heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels, explains Pamela Peeke, M.D., medical director of The National Women's Health Resource Center in Red Bank, New Jersey. "Healthy pleasures bring you joy, and when you're joyful, you cannot be consumed by toxic stress," she says. "It just doesn't happen."

Make sure the emphasis is on healthy pleasures, advises Peeke, who wrote Body for Life for Women (Rodale Books, 2005). Stress-relieving comfort foods are OK to eat as long as you don't make them too comfortable. It's easy to "smarten up" your favorite soothing foods simply by trimming some of the fat and sugar content.

For example, if you have a craving for Belgian waffles the morning after an especially hectic day, go ahead and indulge. But go for a nutrient-packed version made with buckwheat or whole wheat flour. Pile on your own berry sauce made simply by whirling strawberries or blueberries in a blender with just a touch of honey or maple syrup, then stirring in slices of fresh strawberries or whole blueberries. Add sliced bananas, too, and you won't even miss the whipped cream topping that you're going to skip.

If it's mashed potatoes that satisfies your bliss, cook the potatoes with a few cloves of garlic, drain them as usual, then mash them with nonfat milk. If you like, add a drizzle of antioxidant-rich olive oil or a bit of nonfat sour cream instead of butter.

Peeke also advises taking time to savor your food, noticing its color, aroma, flavor, and texture, to enhance the enjoyment factor. Remember to keep portions reasonable. "That's what makes a treat a treat," Peeke says. After the first two or three bites, the rush of delight on your tongue diminishes in intensity.

If chocolate is your desired guilty pleasure, indulge in a reasonable nibble or two. Peeke prescribes "healthy-pleasure portions" of organic dark chocolate, rich in antioxidants and flavor. Refrigerate or freeze a bar of organic chocolate until it becomes hard and easy to snap, then divide it into bite-size pieces, seal them in separate food-safe plastic bags, and toss the bags into the freezer. Then when a chocolate craving strikes, focus on the moment. Pay attention to the feel of the chocolate as it melts in your mouth. Because it has been frozen it will last longer, giving you more time to appreciate its flavor. "Don't just throw it in your mouth and chew," Peeke says. "Savor every moment."

Refusing to rush through life's simple pleasures is key to reducing stress. Practice a little bit of conscious indulgence—a technique anyone can master—when the tension is mounting, and bask in the positive feelings that result.