Is there really a thing as stress relieving foods? The truth is we all have stress but how we handle it makes the difference. Stress management can be a powerful tool for wellness, since too much stress can affect physical health. There are many approaches, one of them is about what you eat.

Foods can help manage stress in several ways. Comfort foods, boost levels of serotonin, a calming brain chemical. Other foods reduce levels of cortisol and adrenaline, stress hormones that take a toll on the body over time. A healthy diet can reverse the impact of stress, by strengthening the immune system and lowering blood pressure.

Stress relieving foods.

Stress relieving foods.

1 . Carbohydrates alert the brain to make more serotonin. It’s best to eat complex carbs, which are digested more slowly. Some of which include whole-grain breakfast cereals, breads, and pastas and old-fashioned oatmeal.

2 . Simple carbs like sweets and soda are not our first choice, but when taken in small amounts, these foods can be satisfying. Simple sugars are digested quickly, leading to a spike in serotonin.  Healthier options are recommended since these don’t last very long.

3 . Oranges are packed with vitamin C, which can reduce levels of stress hormones while strengthening the immune system.

4 .  Green leafy like spinach are packed with magnesium. Not enough magnesium may cause headaches and fatigue, linked to stress.

5 . Fish rich in omega-3  such as salmon and tuna, can prevent surges in stress hormones and may help protect against heart disease, mood disorders like depression, and PMS.

6 .  Eating a handful of pistachios, walnuts, nuts or almonds one in a while may help lower your cholesterol. As well as ease inflammation in your heart’s arteries, making diabetes less likely, while protecting you against the effects of stress.

7 . The best ways to reduce high blood pressure is to get enough potassium, half an avocado has more potassium than a medium-sized banana.

8 . Raw vegetables can help ease stress in a purely mechanical way. Eating celery or carrot sticks helps release a clenched jaw, which wards off tension.

9 . Milk, which is full in calcium can ease anxiety and mood swings when taken warm. It is recommend that we drink skim or low-fat milk.

Hopefully these stress relieving foods will help you manage the stress we all have to deal with on a daily basis.