Relieving Stress With Food

When you're overworked and stress, healthy eating habits can be one of the first things you toss aside. However, if you make sure to work just a few of these foods in your diet, you may find yourself being able to manage stress much better.

Broccoli

Broccoli is loaded with B vitamins, which reduce stress naturally. If you add broccoli as a side-dish to any of your meals, or just have it as a quick and easy snack, you should find yourself feeling more relaxed.

Asparagus

Asparagus is rich in folic acid, which naturally stabilizes moods. A good combination of folic acid and broccoli in your diet will have your body producing plenty of serotonin, a chemical that directly effects your mood.


Milk

Milk's not just loaded with B1 and B12 vitamins- it's also a great source of antioxidants and calcium. For a special treat, try adding a little dark chocolate. It's got loads of antiocidants, lowers blood pressure, and is another mood elevator.


Sushi

Most types of fish are full of B vitamins, giving all the benefits mentioned above. However, sushi also contains seaweed, which contains stress-relieving riboflavin, magnesium, and most importantly, pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid helps keep your adrenal glands, which are a crucial part of stress management, healthy and working fine. Sushi made with tuna is an especially good choice.

Blueberries

Blueberries give your body a strong dose of antioxidants and vitamin C, keeping you healthy and your stress low. Blueberries are also a great source of fiber, helping to prevent ailments like constipation that are very common in times of stress.

Almonds

Almonds aren't just a quick and easy snack- they contain vitamin B2 and E, magnesium, zinc and are a great source of unsaturated fat. Try carrying a package of almonds around with you and grabbing a handful when you think you might be in a stressful situation.

Whole-grains

Carbohydrates boost serotonin levels, but only carbs found in whole-grains will keep you calm and relaxed without any sort of crash. Whole-grains are also digested slowly, keeping you feeling full so that you don't have to deal with the irritability that hunger brings.

Fortified Breakfast Cereal

Breakfast is called the most important meal of the day for a reason. Selecting a cereal full of essential vitamins and minerals will help you fight stress at the very start of your day. It will also kick-start your metabolism, helping you to be more alert and to have more concentration. Adding milk to your cereal will also give you those additional benefits.