Food that reduce stress
Stress influences appetite. While some react to stress by overindulging on comfort food, others lose their appetite all together. Regardless, eating certain food can boost the production of feel-good hormones, instantly making you feel calmer and reduce stress.
Let’s list some of these food so next time you’re feeling stressed you know what to grab from the fridge or pantry, and make sure you only eat food that reduce stress.
Complex carbohydrates
Stress causes cortisol levels to rise, increasing carbohydrate and sugar cravings, found a 2002 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal. While it may be tempting to reach for a chocolate chip cookie when you’re feeling frazzled, you’d be better off eating something rich in complex carbohydrates. Complex-carbs such as yams, black beans, whole-grain breads and cereals, oatmeal, brown rice and barley may help you relax by increasing levels of serotonin (a feel-good hormone) in the brain.
Dark Chocolate
Chocolate lovers are thrilled. Apparently, consuming a small amount of dark chocolate daily can help slash stress by lowering stress hormones, found a 2009 study published in the Journal of Proteome Research. To keep calories in check, limit your daily indulgence to 48 grams, and be sure your chocolate bar is made from at least 70 percent cacao chocolate
Berries
Berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, are rich in vitamin C, which can combat stress. The vitamin lowers blood pressure and levels of cortisol, which can help combat anxiety and stress. Add berries to Greek yogurt, salads or eat them alone.
Cashews
If you’re anything like me, you are nuts about nuts. You’re in luck! Zinc-rich cashews can help combat anxiety and depression. Since our bodies have no way of storing the mood-stabilizing mineral so it’s important to get some every day. However, stick to a 28 gram serving to keep calories in check.
Liquids
You may be tempted to grab a hard drink after a stressful day, but a scotch isn’t the cure you’re looking for. Alcohol may ward off stress initially, but it can cause depression and anxiety later on. Both alcohol and caffeine cause dehydration, which increases stress. Stick with thirst-quenchers like as water, natural fruit juices and herbal, decaffeinated teas. While there is no specific amount of liquid recommended for relieving stress, it’s a good rule of thumb to drink whenever you’re thirsty and to increase your water consumption if your urine is dark in colour.
