Certain foods can enhance your body's ability tohandle stress, packed with essential nutrients needed to boost your mentalstate. Try incorporating some of these foods into your diet to help relieve stress naturally.
Oatmeal
This longtime comfort food, is a complex carbohydrate. It keeps your blood sugar steadyand reduces the level of stress hormones in the brain. Oatmeal helps to relieve stress by releasing the chemicalserotonin, which increases relaxation, calmness and creativity.
Pro tip: Skip therefined sugar. Instead make oatmeal with apples and raisinsfor a touch ofsweetness and extra vitamin C.
Asparagus
This spring time vegetableis notonly high in iron, it is high in folate, one of the many B vitamins. Asparagus stabilizes your mood and helps to reduce depression and anxiety.
Pro tip: This versatile vegetable can be eaten fresh, grilled, steamed , sautéed, or broiled with olive oil.
Salmon and tuna
Fatty fish suchas salmon and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These oils keepthe stress hormone cortisol under control while regulating adrenaline levels.Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to protect against heart disease, stroke,depression, and may assist in lowering blood pressure.
Pro tip:For the non-fish eaters, flaxseed, walnuts, and spinach are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Berries
Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are loaded with anitoxidants and fiber. Yet it's the high amount of Vitamin C, that makes berries a stress fighting food. Vitamin C assist the body to return blood pressure and cortisol to normal levelsafter they have peaked.
Pro tip: Enjoy them fresh, frozen or mixed into a smoothie.
Oysters
While oysters may be bestknown as an aphrodisiac, they are also a stress relieving food chock full of B vitamins andmagnesium. B vitamins help stabilize your mood and relievesymptoms of anxiety and depression. Magnesium levelstend to drop the more stressed we get, this can lead to fatigue and headaches. Add food rich in magnesium to your diet to fight stress and stress-related diseases, such as heart attacks andhigh blood pressure.
Pro tip: B vitamins also aid in memory and relieve premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Dark chocolate
This sweet treat notonly satisfies your taste buds, but helps relieve stress by reducing the levelof cortisol in the body. Dark chocolateis made from the cacao plant, which contains antioxidants that help preventheart disease. Be aware that some dark chocolate desserts may contain addedsugars, so treat yourself in moderation.
Pro tip: Look for dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 70 percent or higher.
Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea is among the most-well known stress-soothing teas. It helps to calm stomach distress and relieve migraine-type headaches. Chamomile tea decreases stress with its wonderful sedative and muscle relaxing properties.
Pro tip: Aftera stressful day, sip a cup before bed and peacefully drift off for agoodnight’s sleep.
Stress is part of our daily lives. Remembering tomake good choices about the foods you eat will give your body the essentialnutrients to keep you staying healthy and functioning at your best.
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