Stress Fighting Foods to Help You Keep Your Cool

If everyone just ate to live, there would likely be far fewer weight problems than there are today. Stress causes many people to eat mindlessly as a way to make up for skipped meals and to soothe frayed nerves. It is no wonder why cardiovascular disease, ulcers, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity are at all time highs in the United States. Did you know that what you eat can make a difference in your stress levels?

Stress Fighting Foods to Help You Keep Your Cool

If you concentrate on low-fat meals and snacks that are dense in nutrients, you can overcome certain chemical imbalances that contribute to your stress and cause you to not only overeat but eat the wrong things. There are several nutrients that have the power to calm ragged nerves:

1. Vitamin B-12 – This vitamin is important, especially when you need help getting over a stressful situation. The vitamin B-12 boosts energy and elevates mood.

2. Folate – Another vitamin in the B family, folate (sometimes called folic acid) is a mood booster.

3. Antioxidants – There are a number of vitamins and minerals like selenium and vitamins C and E that can repair the cell damage triggered by stress-causing free radicals.

Planning your meals and snacks to include these nutrients can help you better cope with stress and even head it off at the pass. Here are some tasty examples of some stress fighting foods:

Asparagus

This green stalked vegetable contains high levels of folate in addition to other essential B vitamins that boost mood. In fact, these nutrients in asparagus help the brain produce the chemical serotonin which is a mood stabilizer. This vegetable is also low in calories and best steamed.

Almonds

If you feel the need for some crunchy texture to take out your stressful aggressions, almonds fit the bill. They are high in vitamins E and B2 and contain minerals like zinc and magnesium. Remember, vitamin E is an antioxidant that works to blast those stress-causing free radicals.

Spinach

If you can fit in a few cups of spinach, you will get your daily allotment of magnesium. This mineral naturally acts as a stress reducer and prevents your blood pressure from reaching high levels. Spinach is great in salads, sandwiches, omelets and even juices.

Fish

Choose fish with healthy omega 3 fatty acids like tuna or salmon if you want a stress reducing meal. Tuna in particular boasts the stress busting vitamins B12 and B6. Fish prevents stress hormones from spiking in times of pressure and anxious situations.

Citrus Fruit

Citrus fruit, particularly oranges, have the popular vitamin C antioxidant which not only helps you fight colds but also can lower tension. An abundance of stress can lower your immune system but the vitamin C counteracts this intrusion. Eat a grapefruit, squeeze fresh lemon on food and drink or add a glass of orange juice to your daily diet.

Milk

Milk packs quite a powerful punch in your stress-filled life. Not only do you get calcium and protein, you also benefit from the stress-busting antioxidant vitamins B2 and B12. Pair a glass of low-fat milk with whole grain toast or cereal and you should be able to feel those shoulders loosen after carrying your stressful burdens throughout the day.

There are many foods that can help you beat stress just as there are some that actually promote your feelings of tension and strain. Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol as they tend to either over-stimulate or suppress your chemical body makeup, contributing to stress levels. In addition, greatly reduce your consumption of processed foods because the trans fats and sugars also exacerbate stress. What you eat definitely makes an impact on your mood and how you deal with your day.