We all know that getting a professional massage, taking a soothing bubble bath, listening to calming songs, filling the air with lavender essential oil and doing guided mediation are some excellent stress-relieving activities.
Did you know that you may also add certain foods to your diet in order for you to be able to de-stress?
If your everyday schedule is very hectic and it’s leaving you extremely stressed, keep on reading. Below you will come across some foods that you may consume to help lower your stress levels, which is very important as too much stress is associated with all kinds of mental and physical health complications that range from diabetes, heart disease to depression.
Got some family members and friends who are leading really stressful lives? Then make sure that you repost this article later on so that they, too, may be able to welcome these stress-lowering foods into their regular diet:
Whole Grains
A lot of people reach for some muffins, brownies, cupcakes and donuts each time they’re stressed because they provide them with much-needed comfort and release from tension. Well, it can be blamed on the fact that carbohydrates can instantly increase levels of serotonin, which is a happy hormone in the brain.
However, it’s of utmost importance to choose one’s sources of carbohydrates well — the best ones for the job are whole grains such as oatmeal, brown rice and popcorn as it can make one feel great without the complications.
Yogurt
Everyone knows that yogurt is good for the body as it supplies the gut with highly beneficial bacteria.
Are you aware of the fact that maintaining a healthy gut is vital for fending off high levels of stress and also its unfavorable impact on the mind? That’s because scientists confirm that some happy hormones in your brain are actually produced in your gut. It’s due to this why regularly consuming yogurt can help you de-stress.
Oily Fish
The reason why oily fish is referred to as such is that it contains lots of omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy fats known to help lower stress and some of its most profound effects on the mental health which are anxiety and depression.
Sardines, tuna, salmon, mackerel, herring, trout, halibut — these are some of the most well-known examples of oily fish types that are packed with omega-3 fatty acids.
Nuts and Seeds
Omega-3 fatty acids can also be obtained from all kinds of nuts and seeds. Needless to say, regularly welcoming pistachios, almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and flaxseeds to the diet is highly recommended for someone who is leading a very stressful life.
By the way, nuts and seeds are also good sources of B vitamins which are vital for strengthening the immune system. Having healthy brain and nerves can help in lowering the unfavorable effects of stress on the body.
Dark Chocolate
The ability of dark chocolate to please your senses is more than enough to have your stress levels considerably lowered.
According to scientists, however, dark chocolate also helps your mind and body to relax on a chemical level — certain compounds in dark chocolate are in fact capable of lowering the levels of stress hormones in the bloodstream. Magnesium found abundantly in this sinful treat also has the same chemical properties.
Herbal Teas
There are lots and lots of herbal teas that can be consumed in order to lower high levels of stress and also minimize the detrimental effects of such on the mind and body.
For instance, ginger and turmeric teas are known to help lower inflammation brought about by stress. Lavender and chamomile teas, on the other hand, are very good for combating stress-induced insomnia. Too much stress can cause anxiety, and such mental health issue can be managed naturally with passion flower and lemon balm teas.
