Feeling stressed? There are so many people who go through their day dealing with stress. It's only natural to look for ways to put your mind at ease. We all deal with it, yet we know how much better off we’d be — both physically and mentally — if we could only get it under control and find stress relievers that really work. While stress can be a positive, motivating factor at times (such as when you’re under pressure to perform well at work or to ace an important exam), more and more research shows that chronic stress impacts the body in ways similar to a poor diet, lack of sleep or sedentary lifestyle.
Would you believe that 75 percent to 90 percent of all doctors office visits are related to conditions caused by stress? How exactly does stress negatively affect our health in so many ways? It mostly boils down to changes in our hormones, which then cascade to an increase in inflammation and various other problems.
Uncontrolled stress experienced over a long period of time is considered “chronic,” dangerous and capable of increasing someone’s risk for heart disease, diabetes, weight gain or obesity, mental disorders, autoimmune diseases, digestive disorders, and even cancer.
Let’s face it, the stress we face today isn’t going anywhere, which is exactly why it’s more important than ever to find natural ways to bust stress that work well for us. What if I told you, you could eat to improve stress? Instead of reaching for candy, try one of our food suggestions below for stress relief. There's no cure-all food to erase frustration, but you can get some stress relief by exercising and including more of these foods in your diet.
Who wants to try?
1) Sweet Potatoes: are high in magnesium, full of antioxidants, helps fight off oxidation in your body and is a great support for your immune system. They are also high in Vitamin B, C, and D. They reduce Cortisol in your body which helps lower stress levels naturally in your body.
2) Cherries: are a concentrated source of Vitamin C (twice as high than citrus fruits) which helps support our immunity and helps protect your nervous system and your emotional health.
3) Salmon: Research has consistently demonstrated that individuals with lower omega 3 fatty acid intake levels have more issues with mental and emotional health. Salmon is high in Omegas. It is also high in Vitamin D, fatty acids and is an anti inflammatory food.
4) Brazil Nuts: They are high in selenium which helps improve your mood by reducing inflammation in your body.
5) Eggs: For those of you who know me, we definitely aren't lacking the availability of eggs in our home. We are small chicken farmers (well my son is lol, we help). Eggs contain tryptophan which is an amino acid that helps create serotonin which is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood. The more serotonin the better. They are also high in Vitamin C.
6) Blueberries: Antioxidants is the first thing I think of when we talk a blueberries, but they are also high in Vitamin C which is amazing for immune support and then of course emotional support.
7) Parsley: Protects against free radicals and oxidation. So don't remove it as a garnish, make sure to eat it.