Great Foods That Alleviate Stress

Being a human being is a difficult task, especially when you have stress from work, family, friends or other external circumstances that have a negative affect on how you operate sometimes. But, there is some awesome news–believe it or not, there are some foods out there that actually help with stress. You heard me right! Healthy, delicious food that will make you feel better about whatever forms of stress are affecting your day to day life.

Oatmeal

In addition to being an awesome insoluble fiber (lowers cholesterol and overall glycemic index), oatmeal is a great start to decrease stress. This breakfast food is a healthy choice to decrease belly fat while using serotonin for a calming solution to sooth any anxiety.

Oranges

German researchers found that consuming Vitamin C actually reduces elevations in cortisol, which is the most common stress hormone in your body. Oranges are also awesome for maintaining your system’s immune system and fighting sickness.

Salmon

Omega-3 anyone? Fish like salmon is a great nutritional source to reduce stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline from increasing when faced with a situation that really gets under your skin. A study at Ohio State University highlighted the fact that omega-3 fatty acids decrease anxiety by 20%. Pass that fish over!

Avocados

Due to their high potassium content, avocados have been shown to help reduce stress-related high blood pressure. These creamy gems contain more potassium than bananas–who would have thought right?

Broccoli

Broccoli contains folic acid, a vitamin that has been proven to reduce not only stress, but also anxiety, panic, and depression. Not to mention that there are also a great source fiber any time of day.

Almonds

Nothing says relief like almonds, right? These gems are loaded with a ton of vitamins that increase serotonin to help relieve stress or anxiety.The zinc and magnesium combination in these nuts has been shown shorten the time it takes to fall asleep and improving its overall quality. I mean no one wants to fall asleep at their desk in their morning, right?

Blueberries

Loaded with antioxidants, blueberries are also rich in Vitamin C and also help reduce elevations in cortisol. These berries not only taste delicious, but also have a very low glycemic index which is a great plus!

Joel Marion from BioTrust will be the first to tell you how Oatmeal, while seemingly healthy, is typically packed with sugar. Do not fall for the heart-healthy brand messaging you will find at the store. Flavor names such as “Maple and Brown Sugar” are not telling the full truth.

Instant Oatmeal is not nearly as healthy as it is marketed to be

First off, please be aware of the fact, as Joel notes, that this product almost certainly does not contain any maple nor brown sugar. In fact, it is most likely chock full of artificial ingredients and regular sugar. Furthermore, the instant-oatmeal varieties generally has a higher glycemic index than just traditional oatmeal. This is because a high-heat processing method has has already pre-cooked this oatmeal. This process also removes many of oatmeals healthiest properties including minerals and vitamins.

If you must opt for oatmeal, you certainly should choose the traditional variety rather than the instant, sugar-heavy type. Marion recommends that you try the plain ol’ steel cut oats. They may be more labor and time intensive to make, but you will reap the rewards of its health benefits. After consuming ol’ steel cut oats, you will discover that your are much fuller than after eating the instant oatmeal.

While not necessarily a breakfast food, Quinoa is a grain that boasts a variety of health benefits including an amazing eight grams of protein per cup. Please note that quinoa is actually the only grain that posses complete protein. Marion also points out how this grain is quite low glycemic. Some say it’s the best grain that you can find, and it is hard to disagree with that assessment. With regards to serving quinoa, you can serve with pretty much anything including fish, chicken, steak, beans, or even salad. It is an incredibly versatile food item as it relates to both flavor, and, more importantly, health benefits.