5 Foods that Help Lower Stress
In today’s world, I assume you have to squeeze a lot into your schedule. With all the extra things you have to do, it’s no wonder that many of us experience stress on a regular basis. Stress is a leading cause of many serious problems and creates a vicious circle of poor health, as we all know.
When treating your stress in a way that fits your green lifestyle, you may choose to avoid medications or wasteful products. You may also try meditation and exercise to lower your stress naturally. Certain types of foods have been proven to help lower stress levels. Organic foods and non-processed foods are on the list. Here are five foods with natural ingredients to help fight stress the next time you feel overwhelmed.
Salmon
Many studies have shown that wild-caught salmon is full of omega-3 fats to reduce depression and anxiety. Salmon works to keep your adrenaline from spiking, which causes the feeling of anxiety. You can also get a good serving of omega-3 fats from grass-fed beef and sardines. There’s no daily consumption recommendation, but adding it to your diet is healthful.
Fresh, commercially packaged, and canned salmon are readily available in most supermarkets. Salmon, in general, is not difficult to cook. There are tons of recipes available on the web and cookbooks that provide details instructions on how to cook salmon. A proper diet is key to a sustainable lifestyle, whether you eat salmon in a salad, pasta, or sandwich.
Avocado
Avocado is a favorite “superfood” lately for a good reason. They contain potassium and B vitamins, along with 18 other essential nutrients, that help lower blood pressure and also help keep your blood sugar levels steady. That goes a long way toward keeping your mood stable throughout the day. If you aren’t fond of avocados, bananas are another excellent source of these nutrients.
Dark Chocolate
Yes, it’s true — you can eat chocolate for your health! We are talking about eating chocolate in moderation just to help you lower your stress level possibly. The stress hormone within the body is called cortisol. Dark chocolate contains a chemical that blocks the brain from interpreting cortisol, allowing you a chance to calm down naturally.
Dr. Axe has a very detailed article about dark chocolate. Some benefits of dark chocolate are potential cancer prevention, improved heart health, blood pressure, and blood aid sugar. There have been many blind tests conducted on chocolate consumption. The tests proved that a daily serving of dark chocolate could significantly improve a person’s mood.
Turkey
The tryptophan that sends you to sleep after a big Thanksgiving meal has many more benefits than just filling you up. It also promotes the production of serotonin in the brain, a feel-good chemical that reduces the symptoms of stress and anxiety. In addition to organic turkey breast, this amino acid is found in eggs, pumpkin seeds, and nuts.
Adding healthier side dishes may help reduce sleep symptoms. Leafy greens are great alternatives to carbs and starch side dishes. But again, balanced meals with portion control are one of the best ways to satisfy most holiday cravings.
Blueberries
The antioxidant that gives a blueberry its dark color is responsible for many stress-busting processes in the body. Anthocyanin is a healthy and powerful antioxidant found in blueberries and many other fruits such as blackberries and peaches. It promotes the production of white blood cells that boost your immune system and helps produce the feel-good chemical dopamine, improving your mood, memory, and coordination. Blueberries are low in calories and make great juices and smoothies.
Using food to treat your stress helps you avoid chemical-laden medicines and can be a boost to your fitness goals.
Sources:
http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/treatment/7-foods-that-fight-anxiety
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15428/13-foods-to-help-ease-anxiety-stress.html
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/04/27/10-stress-relieving-superfoods.aspx
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-benefits-of-salmon
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287710.php
https://draxe.com/benefits-of-dark-chocolate/
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