If your life is getting overwhelming and you’re worried about how it affects your health, eat these stress-reducing foods. They’ll help you keep your cool!
When life gets stressful, it’s totally normal to seek out comfort food. But what you turn to may not be what’s best for your stress levels, even if you think they’ll make you feel better.
Believe it or not, there are foods that can actually help you lower your stress levels.
If your life is getting a bit overwhelming and you’re worried about how it is affecting your health, consider eating more of these seven foods. They’ll help to reduce your stress and soothe your anxiety.
1. Tea
One of the best things you can do for your frayed nerves is to drink a warm cup of tea.
It is the pinnacle of comfort for most people.
Some teas are better than others for your stress:
- Green tea promotes a natural sense of calm.
- The scent of peppermint or lavender tea reduces symptoms of anxiety.
- Chamomile tea helps improve sleep.
In general, tea has less caffeine than coffee and introduces it to your body without the accompanying crash.
It’s hard to deny the sense of warmth and relaxation that comes over you when you have a warm mug of tea in your hands.
2. Yogurt
Everything in your body is connected in one way or another. There are times when a disturbance in one part of the body can cause issues in another part. That’s why it’s good to pay attention to everything when dealing with stress.
Your digestive system could hold the key to reducing your stress.
Yogurt helps you out with a serving of natural probiotics that keep your gut biome healthy. It promotes the formation of healthy bacteria while suppressing unhealthy bacteria that can cause significant problems throughout your body.
A healthy gut is linked to a healthy brain, actually improving symptoms of both depression and anxiety.
It also keeps your immune system working properly and helps your body absorb the nutrients it needs. All of this combined ensures your system runs as it should and keeps your stress to a minimum.
3. Avocados
It’s a good thing avocados have become so popular because you’re definitely going to need some to even you out.
Avocados are chock full of potassium, which lowers your blood pressure.
They also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential nutrients for your health. Getting enough omega-3s will keep your stress and anxiety down while boosting your concentration, even when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
It’s also fantastic for your mood.
With so much to offer, you can start eating as much avocado as your heart desires, and no one can say a word about it.
4. Whole Grains
When you start craving carbs, try to stay away from simple sugars. You think that pack of cookies will make you feel better and get you through the day, but really it’s just going to give you a shock and then make you crash later on.
Complex carbs are so much better for working through stressful times.
Whole grains are a great example of complex carbs. You can find them in the form of whole-grain bread, cereal, brown rice, quinoa, and oatmeal.
Whole grains are fantastic for your body and your stress levels. Just like their unhealthy counterpart, they cause your brain to release serotonin, which helps you maintain your energy levels and concentration under stress.
But unlike simple sugars, whole grains regulate your blood sugar so you don’t crash later on.
They are also packed with fiber to keep your gut healthy. That is super important for keeping the rest of your body healthy, including your brain.
5. Dark Chocolate
If you just can’t get past your craving for chocolate, skip the candy bar and opt for a bit of dark chocolate. It will give you the shot of serotonin your stressed-out brain needs, but with even more health benefits.
Dark chocolate will actually reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your system. And as if that isn’t enough of a reason, it also contains natural antioxidants to lower your blood pressure and keep you feeling calm.
You shouldn’t indulge in a ton of chocolate, even if it’s dark, but a bit of dark chocolate is good for your body and your mind.
So don’t shy away from a little snack when you feel too much pressure!
6. Nuts
Nuts are a quick and easy snack that you can carry around with you to munch on when you need something to crunch between your teeth.
They are one of the best snacks you can have during those more stressful days.
For one thing, nuts are absolutely packed with vitamins and nutrients. They contain an incredibly healthy dose of vitamin B, vitamin E, and healthy fats that make your body more resilient to stress.
They are also high in magnesium and zinc to help lower blood pressure and boost cardiovascular health.
The only drawback with nuts is that they are pretty high in calories. But because they are so full of goodness, you only need a small amount to pack a big punch.
7. Fatty Fish
It is recommended that you eat a serving of fish at least twice a week to maintain your health.
That’s because fatty fish, such as salmon, halibut, tuna, herring, and mackerel, contain a lot of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D that is essential to keeping your body running at it’s best.
Omega-3s and vitamin D both play big roles in lowering stress, managing depression and anxiety, and improving your overall mood.
While there are other ways to introduce omega-3s and vitamin D into your diet, few things do the job better than a nice filet of fish. But they are a great alternative if you’re allergic to seafood.
As long as you’re getting enough of these nutrients one way or another, you’ll help your body manage stress more effectively.
In Conclusion
Your physical health is just as important as your mental health in reducing your stress levels. In fact, a healthy body usually lends itself to a healthy mind.
That’s why it’s crucial to eat right if you want to smooth out those frayed nerves.
Start getting more of these foods in your diet to lower your stress levels and help your body and mind better handle the stress you’re under. You’ll see just how much of an effect what you eat has on keeping you strong during tough times.
Author Bio:
Adam Marshall is a freelance writer who specializes in all things apartment organization, real estate, and college advice. He currently works with Grove at Huntsville to help them with their online marketing.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
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