Stress is one of the most problematic conditions that affects our daily lives. It used to play an important role — before we removed ourselves from the food chain, but now it mostly just makes us unhappy. It also contributes to a wide variety of health issues, such as heart conditions and insomnia.
Fighting stress isn’t always easy, and some kinds of stressors are helpful. Acute stress, or short-term stress, can help us focus and get things done. It might last for a few hours, but then it goes away. Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your mental and physical health. The food you eat can have an effect both on the stress you produce and the side effects from it.
These foods are in no way a cure, so if you’re suffering from anxiety, talk to your doctor. But first, stock up on these anxiety-busting snacks.
These long green stalks are good for fighting stress. Low folic acid levels have been linked to depression and anxiety, and asparagus is chock full of folic acid. This is also a vital nutrient for pregnant women to prevent birth defects, and it can be found in most wheat products.
A bowl of oatmeal in the morning is the perfect combination of carb-y goodness and fiber that makes you feel full for longer. This isn’t a simple carbohydrate that tanks your glucose levels, though.
As a complex carb, it encourages your brain to produce serotonin, which is an excellent mood stabilizer. Serotonin is our brain’s feel-good chemical, right up there with dopamine. Plus, all that fiber and protein gives you a well-balanced start to your day.
An avocado is full of fats and oils, but they’re all the kinds that are good for you. They’re high in folate, fiber and potassium. Its fats are the monounsaturated kind, which means they help regulate blood sugar spikes. Without the sudden highs and lows from blood sugar levels rising and falling, you’ll feel more even-keeled throughout the day.
A warm glass of milk is a great way to get ready for bed. It’s also a well-known help for middle-of-the-night insomnia. The calming effect is thought to be caused by the protein casein. That protein has been concentrated and sold as an all-natural calming medication as well, called lactium. You don’t have to wait until dusk to grab a glass of calming milk.
Strawberries, raspberries and especially blueberries are great for putting a damper on stress. The high levels of Vitamin C, along with the plethora of antioxidants they have, make them the perfect comfort food.
Almonds go great in a variety of dishes, and they’re great for boosting your immune system. Thanks to the B vitamins they contain, just a handful of them can give you a boost. When you’re chronically stressed, a compromised immune system is sure to follow, so give it all the help you can!
Alcohol is a depressant and helps to suppress the nervous system, which helps you decompress. Because alcohol is also addictive, it’s very important to regulate the way you drink. Enjoy a glass or two, but know that too much alcohol can exacerbate some of the symptoms of stress, like difficultly making decisions, self-control and a compromised immune system.
Cashews do double duty, fighting off both stress and depression. They aren’t a cure for either of these things, but they can help you cope better. They’re full of zinc, omega 3s and B vitamins, so they’ll fill you up and help keep you healthy at the same time.
Vitamin C helps lower the stress hormone cortisol. Similar to berries, oranges are bursting with it. Along with fiber and natural sugars, they make for a perfect midday snack. As an added benefit, the Vitamin C in oranges can lower blood pressure.
Although seeds don’t fight off stress specifically, they do help counter the effects of stress. Pumpkin, flax and even chia seeds are all high in magnesium, which helps to counter depression, fatigue and irritability.
Turkey is known to make you fall asleep after Thanksgiving dinner, but that’s usually the effect of overeating, not the tryptophan — the amino acid in turkey that makes us drowsy. You’d have to eat a crazy amount of turkey — like your whole body weight — to get that tired, but the tryptophan can have a mild calming effect. A turkey sandwich might be the perfect lunch on a stressful day!
Green tea is lightly caffeinated and rich in L-theanine, which helps to fight acute stress. It’s one of the least caffeinated teas available, so you’ll end up feeling calm and focused, instead of jittery.
Fermented foods like kimchi or sauerkraut are good for a variety of things. Managing stress is one of those things. The bacteria in fermented foods supports our own gut bacteria, which can help alleviate stressful symptoms, like gastrointestinal issues or IBS.
These are just some of the fun foods you can eat to help lower your stress levels. A healthy diet is vital to everyone, but even with that, you can’t be stressed all the time. Take a break, and figure out what you can do to take care of yourself better.