Top foods to relieve stress

Good news: certain foods can enhance your body's ability to handle stress, packed with essential nutrients needed to boost your mental state. Here are a few of these healthy, powerful foods.

Oatmeal, a long time comfort food, is a complex carbohydrate. It keeps your blood sugar steady and reduces the level of stress hormones in the brain. It releases the chemical serotonin, which increases relaxation, calmness and creativity. Skip the refined sugar and top with slices of your favorite fruit for that touch of sweetness and extra vitamin C. 

Asparagus is not only high in iron, it is high in folate, one of the many B vitamins. It stabilizes your mood and helps to reduce depression and anxiety. It’s great many ways. Use asparagus fresh in salads, sauté it, or broiled it with olive oil.  

Fatty fish such as salmon and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. For the non-fish eaters, flaxseed, walnuts, and spinach are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These oils keep the stress hormone cortisol under control while regulating adrenaline levels. Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to protect against heart disease, stroke, depression, and may assist in lowering blood pressure.

Berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are rich in Vitamin C, which assist the body to return blood pressure and cortisol to normal levels after they have peaked. Enjoy them fresh, frozen or mixed into a smoothie. 

Oysters, best known as an aphrodisiac are, more importantly, chock full of B vitamins and magnesium. B vitamins help stabilize your mood. They aid in memory and relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression, and premenstrual syndrome. Magnesium levels tend to drop the more stressed we get, this can lead to fatigue and headaches. Magnesium also helps fight stress-related diseases such as heart attacks and high blood pressure. 

Dark chocolate not only satisfies your taste buds, but helps relieve stress by reducing the level of cortisol in the body.  Dark chocolate is made from the cacao plant, which contains antioxidants that help prevent heart disease. Be aware that some dark chocolate desserts may contain added sugars so treat yourself in moderation.  

Chamomile tea has wonderful sedative and relaxing properties. It calms stomach distress and helps relieves migraine-type headaches.  After a stressful day, sip a cup before bed and peacefully drift off for a goodnight’s sleep.

We all face stress in our day to day lives. Remembering to make good choices about the foods you eat will give your body the essential nutrients to keep you staying healthy and functioning at your best.