If we have to summarize the quality of our lives as adults with diverse responsibilities, one word comes to mind: stressful. Today’s fast pace life has gradually molded us to make peace with the status quo, that stress is OK and largely acceptable.
We go as far as viewing people who live a stress-free life as being the outliers. Though stress can be a motivator in some instances (as it may encourage you to persevere through certain tough tasks), the vast majority of the time, stress is not acceptable, as it contributes to raising your blood pressure and weakening your immune system.
Fortunately enough, there are ways you can put a leash on your stress demons, allowing you to fully consummate the health benefits of a stress-free body environment. Yoga is one way that can help you reach this stage; food is another avenue. You certainly don’t want to eat your way through the stress and expect it to vanish; but rather, target specific foods, known to relax your arteries, and stabilize your blood pressure.
Stress and food
One of the key elements to stress relief through food, is to avoid things that give your body and mind real highs and real lows. Caffeine and alcohol are the primary culprits. You also want to stay away from stimulants and depressants. In addition, cut back on sugary snacks, as most of these snacks are loaded with empty refined sugar calories, which cause your blood sugar to spike and then fall precipitously. When your blood sugar falls, it renders you stressful.
5 foods for stress relief
There are several foods that can help lower your stress level. Below is a list of five of them.
Asparagus
If you have a stressful life, you may want to load up on asparagus. When you are stressed, your body releases hormones that affect your mood. Asparagus is high in folic acid, which helps stabilize your out-of-balance mood.
Cottage Cheese and Vitamin C
As mentioned above, one way of leveling your blood sugar is by eating foods that won’t give you real highs and real lows, such as refined sugar. Foods that are rich in protein, are not loaded with sugar. Cottage cheese is excellent in that category. For better results, mix the cottage cheese with oranges, as orange is jam-packed with vitamin C, which helps fight free radicals that are released when you are stressed.
Almonds
Next time you want to unleash your stress on something, try crunching on some almonds to get the aggression out. Almonds are a great source of vitamins B2 and E, as well as zinc and magnesium. Though almonds have a high fat content, the majority of the fat is unsaturated. Similar to vitamin C, vitamin E has also been proven to fend off free radicals associated with stress, in particular free radicals that are responsible for heart disease.
Tuna
Tuna is not just a great healthy lunch menu; it is also rich in stress-reducing vitamins such as vitamins B6 and B12. In addition, tuna is an excellent low-fat source of protein. Avoid loading up your tuna with mayonnaise, as it defeats the purpose of the low-fat element.
Milk
Milk is rich in antioxidants and vitamins B2 and B12. It is also packed with protein and calcium. Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, get in the habit of drinking low-fat milk in the morning, with whole-grain cereal, to get your day started in a stress-free manner.
Author Bio: Kodjo Hounnake is a home fitness enthusiast who believes anyone can get in great shape right at home. You do not need expensive gym equipment to achieve the silhouette of your dreams. Your body weight is sufficient enough. See the hundreds of home workout videos and healthy homemade recipes on his home fitness blog.
