Some of us reach for food when we are stressed, but instead of eating an unhealthy combo of sugar fix that would undoubtedly leave you feeling burned and crushed later, why don’t you go for stress-relieving foods.
Thefoodtian.com has gathered seven common foods that help with anxiety.
Wouldn’t it be amazing to know you can eat some food and it would not only fill you, but it would also help you relax? Of course, it would. Read the following to find out the seven common foods that help with stress.
1. Sweet Potatoes
The body naturally craves carbs when it’s stressed, but instead of letting the urge control you and go for fatty foods like fries, plates of pasta, and sugary food, go for sweet potatoes instead.
Sweet potatoes are classified as a low GI carb. This means they give off a slow but steady source of energy. A plate of sweet potatoes would leave you feeling energetic and relaxed at the same time.
Slice some sweet potatoes into wedges, bake with rosemary and olive oil, then have them mashed, or you could just bake them in their skins.
2. Turkey
Turkey has a ‘magic ingredient’ known as amino acid tryptophan, which triggers the release of a chemical in the brain. This is a feel-good chemical known as serotonin.
The release of serotonin in the brain helps to activate the feeling of calm, and could sometimes cause a person to be exhausted. This would explain why it’s common to snooze all warm and cuddly in front of your fireplace.
3. Blueberries
Blueberries are famous on the food circuit as possessing superfood status, and positively so. The rich antioxidants in blueberries do more for a stressed-out and sluggish brain faster than large cups of espresso.
They’re also adequately high in vitamin C, which has been proven to provide the body with added reserves that help it handle high levels of stress.
Well, that’s not all. Blueberries also have a stress weapon that is full of fiber and helps coordinate blood sugar levels. Fluctuating blood sugar levels can cause high levels of stress in people.
4. Sushi
There isn’t one, but two feel-good chemicals in sushi known as melatonin and serotonin. Additionally, the rice present in the rolls provides you with the perfect fiber and rich carbs. The unique combination of nutrients in sushi is enough to give you an added energy boost.
The oily fishes such as tuna and salmon, used in making sushi are abundant in omega-three and have shown promise of being able to minimize stress naturally.
5. Avocados
Avocados have a bad reputation for being high in fat, but it contains a good type of fat (monounsaturated), not the hard saturated type. The monounsaturated fats, plus high levels of potassium, makes using avocados to reduce stress levels remarkably.
Research has proven that one of the best ways to minimize blood pressure is by eating foods that are rich in potassium, and bananas don’t even have as much potassium as avocados do.
6. Beef
Beef Fillet (chopped) on dark vintage wooden background (selective focus)
If you’re looking to chill out, then you might just want to order a steak. Beef’s stress-reducing properties are as a result of an abundance of zinc and vitamin B.
There’s no denying that beef contains bad fats, which is the unhealthy saturated type of fats that can increase the risk of heart complications and other illnesses. This can be avoided by opting for leaner cuts, just the precise excuse to try a filet.
7. Asparagus
Apart from the strange effect, it has on urine, asparagus is extra high in folic acid, which helps regulate stress levels. Hormones are released in the body when it is stressed, which inevitably affects your mood.
Consuming some vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins and folic acid can help in keeping your stress level in check.
You can have your asparagus prepared on a grill pan with some filet of salmon. You could also include mashed potatoes to give it a great balance.
What other stress-reducing foods do you know about? Care to share your thoughts with us? Kindly use the comments below.
