We all suffer from stress at some point of our lives; it is not very easy to avoid it. All reasons lie behind the super hectic and fast lifestyles we lead today. Stress can be due to different reasons like work, personal life, family matters, etc. It’s easy to tell a person who is stressed to just ‘get over it’, but believe me, it’s easier said than done! But there are certain ways to control it, and one of them is through the food we eat. Yes, food plays an important role in getting relief from stress. So here are the top 10 stress reducing foods you should be eating if you suffer from stress, to get relief from it:
Sometimes, when you are not really hungry but simply want to snack on something, take a handful of nuts and munch away! Nuts are full of essential fatty acids and contain high levels of magnesium, which in turn helps in reducing cortisol levels in the body. Some of great nuts to include in your diet are almonds and walnuts.
Don’t we all love chocolate? But dark chocolate essentially is very beneficial for health as it is full of antioxidants. Look for dark chocolate, which contains a minimum of 70% cocoa. It will instantly cheer you up. It helps tremendously in improving mood, but do try to consume it in moderation.
Milk is high in vitamin B, along with protein and calcium and therefore, drinking a glass of milk will also keep you full for longer, and stabilize blood sugar. If possible try having low fat skim milk on a daily basis to keep stress at bay. This is also the best stress relief food.
Green tea is not only good for weight loss and overall health of the body, but also helps in elevating stress. The caffeine present in it acts as a stimulant, which helps the body feel energetic and fresh. And regular use of green tea is effective with depression as well
Many types of cheese, especially cottage cheese, is very high in protein and makes you feel full for longer and gives a feeling of satiety, as it effectively stabilizes blood sugar levels in the body. The best way is to consume the low fat version, so that you get all the necessary nutrition without the calories.
Blueberries are considered to be one of the best stress busters, to some they are also known as super fruits and rightly so. They are full of antioxidants and vitamin C, which fights free radicals and in turn reduces stress. To ensure optimum health benefits, consume a cup of blueberries every day, to notice difference.
Vitamin B deficiency is one of the causes that lead to stress and depression. Avocados are a rich source of vitamin B. They are also full of essential fatty acids especially omega 3 and 6. Make a habit to consume half avocado daily in any form to combat stress.
Vitamin C is a great stress buster, and what better source of vitamin C than oranges! They are not only tangy and yummy but also work wonders to help you fight against stress. Consume at least one orange very day to reduce your cortisol levels and reduce stress.
Remember how our parent always kept telling us to consume more and more green leafy vegetables? They had a point! Green leafy vegetables act to reverse the signs of stress. Some of them like spinach and kale have a good comforting effect and are very high in magnesium.
The goodness of water cannot be replaced by anything! Yes, plain water. No wonder people keep telling you to drink water and enough of it. Sipping water every few minutes help tremendously in keeping stress away. When you return home, tired after a long working day, drink a glass of water. Dehydration can actually cause stress. So, if you keep your body hydrated, you will definitely remove one factor that might be leading to your stress levels.
Stress can sap our life of joy. But what is the purpose of life, if not happiness? Don’t allow stress and depression to take over your life. Try to include these simple foods for stress relief and learn to be happy again!