the 11 Best Foods to Reduce Stress
1. Dark Chocolate
The stress-reducing qualities come from dark chocolate with 70% cacao or more. By eating a small portion of a dark chocolate bar, cortisol levels can decrease. This can reduce your heart rate and help calm your breathing. Thus, literally melting stress away in each bite.
2. A Handful of Nuts
Nuts like pumpkin seeds, cashews, or almonds contain magnesium. When your body has the right amount of magnesium, your cortisol levels can be regulated. This greatly reduces the feeling of being stressed.
3. Whole Grain Bread
Whole grains are complex carbohydrates found in oatmeal, breads, and pastas. For stress reduction, be sure you are using whole grain products. Filling up on simple carbohydrates found in processed foods will have an adverse effect and cause you to become more stressed.
4. A Glass of Milk
Milk contains the amino acid, tryptophan which has sleep-inducing qualities. So, when you're feeling a bit overwhelmed, a glass of warm milk may calm you down → 9 Weight Loss Drinks other than water
5. Broccoli
Broccoli, like other dark green vegetables, contains folate. Folate is essential in the production of the chemical, dopamine. Dopamine is the brain's pleasure drug. When your dopamine levels are regulated, your sense of balance is as well.
6. Salmon
Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and tuna have been linked to lowering anxiety. These mood-altering foods not only benefit in times of stress but also provide essential brain-boosting powers as well.
7. Oranges
The vitamin C found oranges, strawberries, and tomatoes can help the body quickly clear out unwanted stress hormones. Filling up on this super vitamin helps build your immune system while reducing stress.
8. Eggs
Foods high in zinc such as eggs, beef, oysters and lamb are known to boost moods. Zinc is removed from the body through urine, sweat, and saliva. If you ever feel your mouth water when under high levels of stress, or your forehead sweats profusely, that's a sign of zinc leaving your body.
9. Pickles
Pickles brined in sea salt and water are natural probiotics. Just as whole grains aid in overall gut health, the probiotics found in pickles, sauerkraut and live-cultured yogurt serve the same purpose. Probiotics are essential for a healthy gut. This leads to overall hormone balance which can reduce stress in the long run.
10. Hot Tea
Hot teas not only soothe an anxious mind, but they also aid in upset stomachs.
- Chamomile teas are well known for their calming abilities.
- Ginseng acts as a super tea in terms of ultimate mind and body healing.
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There are plenty of good quality teas on the market blended specifically for stress relief. Once you find a flavor tea you like, make a daily habit of enjoying it while you read a book or enjoy nature.
11. Water
A cold glass of water may be the one thing most people need the most when a major stress attack occurs. Water by itself has refreshing properties. However, cold water in an over-active system acts as a welcomed distraction.
Your body temperature rises as does your blood pressure when you become stressed. When you flood your system with something cold, it functions as CTL ALT DEL to your body. This gives you the opportunity to catch your breath and slow your heart rate.