Occasional bouts of stress have become too common in today's fast running world. These bouts are quite difficult to tackle and if the problem stretches to chronic stress, it can take a serious toll on your health. If you are someone who's trying to find a solution for your stress, the answer could be foods that relieve stress. It is common to seek tasty food when you are feeling stressed. In fact, for many people, food becomes a go-to thing whenever their stress levels become unbearable. But the real magic happens when they replace unhealthy foods with foods that relieve stress and depression. In this article, we have jotted down 7 foods that decrease stress. Give it a thorough read.
7 Foods That Relieve Stress
1. Sweet potatoes
People of different ages and likes enjoy having sweet potatoes. Despite sweet potato's popularity, only a few people know that this rich source of carb can also lower the levels of a stress hormone called cortisol. Usually, our body tightly regulates the production and flow of cortisol, but in the case of chronic stress, cortisol dysfunction can happen. So, if you are looking for foods that reduce stress hormones, you should add sweet potatoes to your diet chart. The food can also provide you with a healthy nutrition as it contains Vitamin C and potassium in high amounts. Interestingly, both of these nutrients are helpful in building stress response in the body.
2. Meat From Organs
Most people already enjoy meat that is obtained from organs like the kidneys, liver, and heart from animals like chickens and lamb. This type of meat needs a special mention in the list of foods that relieve stress and depression as it is a rich source of folate, riboflavin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6 etc. These B Vitamins are crucial for the production of certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters play a large role in regulating our mood. When you eat organ meat as food to reduce stress, you get a lot of B Vitamins which eventually lowers the stress levels with dopamine and serotonin.
3. Eggs
Another famous name in the list of foods that relieve stress is eggs. For their impressive profile of nutrition, eggs are even called nature's multivitamin. An egg contains antioxidants, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. Most of these nutrients are required by the human body to build a healthy stress response. One particular nutrient that makes eggs an excellent food for anxiety relief is choline. It is a rare nutrient that is found only in a few foods. Studies have found that choline is an important nutrient that helps the body in maintaining brain health and mood boost.
4. Parsley
Parsley is not just a herb that adds flavor to Indian curries, it is also one of the most healthy foods that relieve stress. It contains compounds called antioxidants that are known for neutralizing unstable molecules in the called free radicals. Along with that, antioxidants can also provide protection against oxidative stress. This oxidative stress is linked with various types of health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Many scientific studies have found that if you take a diet rich in antioxidants, you reduce the chances of developing stress and anxiety. If you don't like to add parsley to your dishes for its taste, you might want to have this food to reduce stress.
5. Oranges
Fruits hold a special place in the list of foods that relieve stress. Among these fruits, oranges are a popular choice that is liked by kids and adults alike. Oranges contain Vitamin C in high amounts, which is a great nutrient that helps you lower stress levels. Vitamin C helps in controlling the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. A prolonged high cortisol level in the body can lead to many problems, the main ones being weight gain, increased appetite, belly fat, fatigue, brain fog. So, if you are planning to have fruits that relieve stress, oranges should be a high priority.
6. Turmeric
People have been consuming turmeric for ages for its wound healing properties. Now we know that turmeric is not just a good healer but it is also one of the best foods that relieve stress. As mentioned earlier, oxidative stress can become a reason for anxiety and even depression. By preventing oxidative stress and reducing inflammation, turmeric can eliminate both stress and anxiety. One of the easiest ways of adding this food for anxiety relief in your diet is adding it in a cup of warm milk. It will help in healing both your body and mind. If turmeric milk sounds too plain to you, you can try out the turmeric smoothie bowl recipe.
7. Herbal Tea
Just like turmeric, people have also been using herbal tea for thousands of years to treat their physical health problems. Recent scientific studies have now shown that not just improvement in physical health, but herbal tea can also alleviate many symptoms of anxiety. So, if you are looking for foods that relieve stress but are also tasty, you can try herbal tea. Herbal tea contains adaptogens that help the human body adapt to stress and anxiety. Adaptogens work with the body and help it find the perfect balance. Among these adaptogens, some help in sleep and relaxation while others help in preventing headaches. If you are planning to learn a digestive tea recipe, make sure that you also learn the herbal tea recipe as it is going to benefit both your mind and the body.
Foods to avoid
Just knowing about foods that relieve stress is not enough. To reduce your stress levels, you also need to know about the foods that can add to your stress levels. Here is a list of some foods that can cause stress:
- High-sugar food
- Excessive Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Soda
The Bottom Line
You always have the option of searching for a nutritionist near me and getting a diet chart. But if you know about the benefits of some popular foods yourself, you are better equipped to get on your journey of reducing stress levels.
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