Is your day getting to you? No one can go through life without getting stressed at one point or another. Stress, being one of our worst enemies, makes life miserable. So wouldn’t it be great if we could just kick it out of our lives with a bite to eat? Research has proven that certain foods, eaten on a regular basis, do just that- relieve stress.

Let’s take the primary issue with stress- reduced levels of energy. To combat fatigue, magnesium-rich spinach is a tasty solution. Almonds, with vitamin B and E, also increase energy and boost your immunity. Oranges rich in Vitamin C also help minimize stress while strengthening the immune system.

Sweet potatoes are another one of those unsung heroes of a stress relieving diet. Enriched in beta carotene, they have a high nutritional standing along with carrots. The fiber content assuages your hunger reducing intake of unnecessary stress-buster snacks.

Sweets are known to be one of the best medicines for stress as they decrease the production of a particular stress-inducing hormone. Eating a sweet potato in place of candy as a little-pick me up, satisfies both your sweet tooth and gives you a nutritional boost.

Dried fruits, commonly available these days, are just as tasty as fresh fruits and have high nutritional value. Apricots in particular are deliciously sweet and can satiate your candy craving any day! An added pro is the magnesium content that loosens taught muscles bringing your body into a relaxed state.

The soft, tasty thanksgiving turkey that we celebrate with every year, is actually another relaxant due to the Tryptophan present in it. This has a natural sedative effect.

Why does a heavy turkey meal make you sleepy? Tryptophan, an amino acid present in turkey, is a natural sedative. Thus turkey consumption when you’re stressed is helpful, as Tryptophan causes Serotonin, a feel-good chemical, to be released from the brain. This in turn, helps you feel good!

Fish too play their part in deflating a high stress situation. Salmon and white fish literally calm the brain with omega-3 fatty acids. These acids prevent stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline from being produced in large amounts at a time, thus allowing the consumer to be calm and collected in a scenario where he would normally panic!

Avocados, walnuts and brown rice also reduce stress and give you that needed boost of energy. The next time you find your anxiety spiraling out of control, remember that food should be your ally, not your enemy. When you control the food you eat everything else will automatically fall in place.

See additional articles penned by this same author dealing with items such as GSM mobile phone and camera lanyard.

categories: stress management,health,self help,food,diet,self improvement,advice,research,education,nutrition,fitness,lifestyle,happiness,cooking