Stress: What to Know about Healthy Eating
Your diet can affect your stress levels, making it go up or down. Eating a healthy diet is beneficial when it comes to lowering and fighting off stress. Eating healthy and nutritious foods can help you dramatically reduce your stress levels. There are certain foods and nutrients that can increases hormonal levels in the body to fight stress. There are also foods and drink, which can help in alleviating stress. They can lower the hormones, which trigger stress. Here are some foods and beverages that are known to help lower and fight stress.
What to Know about Stress and Healthy Eating
Tea
Studies have shown that tea can help calm people who are experiencing stress. Sipping on a warm drink has a very soothing effect in itself. Herbs such as chamomile and lavender are particularly known for their relaxing effects. So if you are upset or anxious, try preparing yourself a warm cup of tea. Try this solution if you commonly suffer from stress for its mind-calming properties, too.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate, the healthiest variety of chocolate packed with antioxidants, is actually a good stress reliever. Dark chocolate can help reduce stress by lowering the levels of stress hormones called cortisol in the body. Eating dark chocolate also improves mood as it increases the serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain. Serotonin and endorphin are brain chemicals that can boost mood and reduce stress.
Healthy Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates can also increase serotonin levels. Eat healthy carbohydrates such as whole grains and sweet potatoes for better nutrition.
Leafy Vegetables
Greens such as spinach contain folate, which produces dopamine. Dopamine is a pleasure-inducing chemical in the brain that can help you keep calm. Research has shown that people who consume more folate in their diet have lower risk of depression symptoms.
Avocados
Aside from its many health benefits, avocados are a great food to help relieve stress because it is packed with Omega-3 fatty acids that are known to reduce stress, enhance concentration, and improve mood.
Fatty Fish
It includes salmon, tuna, herring, halibut, mackerel and sardines are great Omega-3 fatty acid sources. Some studies have also shown that Omega-3 fatty acids and fatty fish can help ease depression. They have brain-boosting properties to help fight depression as well as contribute to your overall health.
Citrus Fruits
High levels of Vitamin C can help ease stress levels. Eat Vitamin-C rich foods such as oranges, strawberries and grapefruits.
Nuts
Pistachios can help reduce stress by lowering blood pressure and heart. Cashews are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and zinc, an essential mineral that may help reduce anxiety. Walnuts are high in Omega-3 fatty acids and contain alpha linolenic acid, which can help improve people’s response to stress by lowering blood pressure levels.
Diet can indeed play a vital role in one’s mood and overall well-being. Your diet can help you respond better to stress. Make sure to eat a healthy diet to help you combat the daily stresses of life. You can best fight stress when you are healthy.