Feeling a little overwhelmed lately? You’re not alone. We all have reasons to be stressed out, it’s our body’s natural reaction towards tough situations. The problem however, if you’re not giving your body the nutrients it needs to fight stress, your body won’t be ready to combat those emotional situations. So next time, when the going gets tough, all you have to do is eat your way out of it. And it’s as easy as going into your kitchen.
Here’s our list of foods that will help conquer stress:
Drink tea
After a long day, chamomile tea is the perfect drink to have before going to bed. It acts as a muscle relaxant which can relieve you of all the bodily tension that you built up during the day. It even works as a gentle sedative which will help you fall asleep.
But chamomile isn’t the only tea with stress relieving benefits. Drinking black tea regularly can limit your body’s production of cortisol, a stress hormone.
Dark Chocolate
Nibbling on a couple pieces of dark chocolate a day is known to reduce stress among people who experince high levels of panic and anxiety. Not only does it reduce the production of the stress hormone cortisol, studies have shown that eating dark chocolate can lower blood pressure and improve your mood.
Get nutty (almonds, walnuts, pistachios)
Nuts have a lot of vitamic E and antioxidants that help your immune system. Almonds are the perfect choice as they help you resist stressful situations and maintain energy levels. For another great nut option, eat a handful of pistachios or walnuts a day. It will help lower your blood pressure which eases the pressure on your heart in tense situations.
Avocados
Who knew whipping up a yummy bowl of guacamole can ease the stress? Avocados are high in potassium and helps lower blood pressure. It’s also It helps reduce those feelings of panic.
Salmon
When you’re stuck in a crazy situation, your body starts to produce higher amounts of the stress hormone cortisol and adrenaline. This is what helps make you feel incredibly anxious, not a good feeling. Eating a light fish like salmon prevents your adrenaline and cortisol from skyrocketing. Salmon has omega-3 fatty acids that are great at conquering stress, prevent heart disease, and improve your mood.
Asparagus
Depression and anxiety is linked to a deficiency of folic acid. Asparagus has high levels of folic acid which helps boost your mood as your body makes serotonin, your calming hormone.
Blueberries
When we panic or get caught in stressful situations, our body needs antioxidants and vitamin C to protect and repair cells in the body. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, grab a handful of blueberries to get the antioxidants and vitamin C your body needs. Not only is it a healthy food option, it also helps balance sugar levels.
Oatmeal
Having a bowl of oatmeal will not only fill you up, but it produces the calming hormone serotonin. But instead of grabbing your favourite instant oatmeal, cook your own bowl. Homemade oatmeal is a lot thicker than your regular instant oatmeal, which takes longer for body to break down. The longer it takes to digest, the longer that calming sensation will last. Have a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and add the some blueberries into the mix and you have the ultimate stress busting meal.
Whole Wheat Pasta
Just like oatmeal, whole wheat pasta is packed with complex carbohydrates that help produce serotonin. Pasta will keep you feeling full and relaxed. Another great option is having a bowl of whole wheat rice which has the same stress soothing benefits.
Beef
Get the grill ready! We’re giving you another reason to eat steak. Aside from it’s succulent taste they also have great health benefits. Every piece of steak has iron, zinc and B vitamins that all work together to stabilize your mood. But before you go steak happy, beef is high in fat so always look for lean beef options.
