Eat These Foods When You’re Stressed

Eat These Foods When You’re Stressed

People feel more calm, happy, and energetic on the days that they eat fruits and vegetables. You don’t have to forget taste just because you’re eating healthy. Some of the best chefs and restaurants make healthy food taste delicious. Eat the following foods to ease anxiety.

1. Green, leafy veggies. These contain folate, which helps you produce dopamine, which is a chemical in your brain that induces pleasure and helps you stay calm. Studies have shown that folate can also ease symptoms of depression. Add kale, spinach, and other greens to your regular diet.

2. Turkey breast. The tryptophan in turkey helps your body produce serotonin, which will regulate your hunger and help you feel happier. It also has a calming effect. Alternatively, you can take tryptophan supplements or eat nuts, tofu, fish, seeds, oats, beans, eggs, or lentils, all foods that are high in tryptophan. There are plenty of gourmet dishes from professionals like Tim Love that contain these ingredients.

3. Oatmeal. If you love carbs, this is good news. Carbs also help you produce seratonin. Complex carbs are best. Stress can make your blood sugar rise, and a complex carb won’t contribute to that spike in blood glucose. Add honey, maple syrup, or berries to oatmeal.

4. Yogurt. The bacteria in your gut could be causing you stress. The probiotics in yogurt can limit the brain activity in the areas of the brain that deal with emotion, including stress. Plus, yogurt is packed with calcium and protein. Make plain yogurt more palatable by adding fresh fruit, nuts, or honey.

5. Salmon. Anxiety hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, spike when you’re stressed. The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon will counteract these negative effects of stress hormones. Try to eat salmon once or twice a week.

6. Blueberries. Their antioxidants and phytonutrients help your body responds better to stress. They also help you to fight free radicals related to stress. Plus, blueberries help with your killer cells, your white blood cells, which are important for immunity.

If you’re lucky enough to live in a bustling city, there are probably a lot of healthy, gourmet restaurants for you to choose from. Don’t hesitate to ask for a double serving of veggies, especially if you want to replace something unhealthy, like French fries.