Best stress relieving foods
We all feel wrung out sometimes by the stress of daily life and, unfortunately, we tend to reach for junk food. But high-calorie or sugary foods only trick us into thinking we feel better. Unhealthy eating patterns can send stress levels skyrocketing and potentially increase your risk of health problems in the future if you don’t address them.
Being stressed can increase can increase your needs for nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Magnesium, etc. So next time you’re under stress, arm yourself with some of these delicious stress-busting staples:
1. Dark Chocolate
- Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and may also help by lowering stress levels in the body. Chocolate feels like such an indulgence to savour an entire bar but make sure to eat it moderation. It’s also important to choose high-quality dark chocolate that has no hidden chemicals or additives. Look on the label for two or three ingredients, such as cocoa bean, cane sugar and cocoa butter.
2. Dry Fruits
- Stress reduces levels of vitamin B and snacking on nuts helps replenish them. B vitamins keep our neurotransmitters in their happy place and help us handle the fight-or-flight stress response. A couple servings of potassium-packed pistachios a day can lower blood pressure and reduce the strain stress puts on our heart.
3. Milk
- Sipping warm milk before bed is a centuries-old home remedy for getting a better night’s sleep. Warm milk can have a relaxing effect on the body as well as on a psychological level. Milk and other dairy foods with calcium and added vitamin D can help muscles relax and stabilise mood.
4. Tea
- Tea drinkers de-stress faster and have lower cortisol levels than those who drank coffee. Drinking herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint or ginger can be wonderfully soothing to the digestive tract, which can help with stress by calming the nervous system in your gut.
- 5. Citrus Fruits
- High levels of vitamin C may help ease stress levels. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that’s found in many foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. The human body cannot produce or store vitamin C. Therefore, it’s essential to consume it regularly in sufficient amounts. Vitamin C can be found in foods like – Sweet yellow pepper, kale, kiwis, oranges and strawberries.
