10 Healthy Ways to De-Stress With Food

Stress has become a part and parcel of our life today. With the need to excel in our careers at rocket high speeds we have invited stress to be a regular guest that too with our expense! The long working hours, skipping breakfast, working late nights and over dose of caffeine is taking a toll on our health. We are ignoring the little signals that our body and mind are sending us and when we notice, it is too late!

People have their own customized stress busters that are effective for them but might not work for others. Some people find solace in music, others in sleeping and so on. But most of these are time consuming and are not possible at the nick of time we have at our disposal before we burst out! Many of us have heard of comfort foods that help to deal with stress in a short span of time. Most of them are unhealthy for you but we have brought to you some options in food for stress relief that are way healthier.

Cashews

These creamy rich nuts are ideal to burst stress. They are rich in the amino acid L-tryptophan which converts to serotonin in the body. Leaving the chemistry aside, we’d restrict our self to saying that this is a feel good chemical. It is sure to lift your mood and instill some energy into you!

Broccoli

Most of us have heard about the health benefits of broccoli. This green veggie has folic acid and we are not talking about pregnancy. That’s what most of us will relate folic acid to! But it might interest you to know that folic acid reduces stress. You can add a low fat ranch dip to make it more palatable!

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English Muffin with Honey

The whole grain version is obviously a healthier option, no doubt about that. The complex carbohydrates in the muffin will raise the serotonin levels, which as described earlier is a feel good chemical. Add a dash of honey or jam to enhance the taste. Moreover a bit of sugary stuff makes you feel good automatically!

Salmon

Apart from the feel good chemical, what can reduce stress? Now if you are stressed because you can’t make decisions and have unclear thoughts, then salmon is for you. Salmon is rich is omega 3 fatty acids which enhance your ability to collaborate your thoughts. Hence the stress is kept at bay!

Dark Chocolate

In the list of stress relieving foods, chocolate is sure to be the hero! But choose your chocolate wisely, go for an alternative with more than 70% cocoa content. The endorphin releasing food has an interesting fact attached to it. It has the property to imitate the effects of marijuana on the brain. You can get the soothing feeling without getting into the dirty game of drugs!

Milk

We all are well aware of the abundance of nutrients in milk. Being rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium; milk is great for your bones and blood pressure. While talking of foods that relieve stress and depression, milk doesn't cross our minds. But you probably had no ides that milk contains tryptophan, which also raises serotonin in your body, uplifting your mood!

Hot Cocoa

Warmth is often related to comfort, we feel cozy tucked in a blanket. That is comforting, right! And cocoa raises our body temptation triggering a feeling of comfort. You don't have to retire to bed to De-stress yourself. Just grab a mug of hot cocoa and you are through!

Black Tea

What is the most spontaneous response to stress? Coffee? But that does nothing to reduce your stress rather does the reverse, only increases it! Go for a cup of black tea instead. It has been proved through a scientific experiment that drinking black tea 4 times a day for 6 weeks reduced the stress hormone, cortisol!

Green Tea

Don’t we all associate it to losing weight? It has other benefits as well. Having a cup of green tea, rejuvenates you and refreshes you after a long stressful day. Leaving the chemical jargon aside, we’ll just say that green tea contains theanine which increases your brain’s output of relaxation. That’s the idea isn't it?

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Water

Haven't we heard our grannies telling us to drink water to calm down? That is an age old funda but is very scientific! Drinking cold water increases blood circulation and if you take a walk right after it, you are going good. The fresh air stimulates the endorphin that will help in the de-stressing procedure!

The valuable space in your life that has been encroached by stress will now be free after using these tips. De-stress yourself by eating healthy and you won't have to pay for the comfort by a tremendous weight gain! Apart from these tips, you can opt for healthy diet to reduce stress to bring your chances of stressing further down! Eat healthy and stay healthy. We will be back with more tips!