Are the stresses of life getting to you? Perhaps your job is demanding more than usual or your personal life is headed in twenty different directions. Relax, there are some simple yet valuable foods you can use to lose weight and reduce your stress. It is true that certain daily activities like going out for a walk, yoga classes, or even kicking back and reading a book can help reduce your stress. However, what you eat can play a large part in reducing your stress and improving your health. Here are some stress fighting foods you can easily add to your diet.
Oranges: For most of us when we think about oranges, we think vitamin C. It is common knowledge that vitamin C is a strong ally for the immune system, but vitamin C also helps to reduce the amount of stress hormones we produce during stressful situations. By consuming oranges or another source of vitamin C before or shortly after experiencing a stressful situation, you may be able to return your blood pressure and cortisol (cortisol is a hormone that has been linked to stress , it is sometimes called the stress hormone) levels to a more normal state quicker than you would without them.
Blueberries: Blueberries are known as a super food and with good reason. They have been found to help in “reverse the effects of short term memory and possibly even forestall (the) other effects of aging.”i These super fruits are also high in antioxidants; it is these antioxidants help to reduce the formation of cortisol in stressful situations.
Raw vegetables: Some vegetable like spinach are high in magnesium and other nutrients that are good at reducing cortisol. But the biggest weapon vegetables have is their crunchiness; believe it or not when we chew on uncooked vegetables we are releasing a good deal of stress. This is because the chewing action needed to breakdown the raw vegetable is easing built up tension in the jaw. By releasing this tension you may be able to reduce the intensity and frequency of stress/tension headaches.
Black tea: This drink is another power player for reducing and regulating the production of cortisol after a stressful event. If you are not a tea drinker be aware that substituting tea for coffee will not decrease your stress levels; in fact coffee is a well known stimulant that will only increase your level of cortisol and enhance your feelings of stress.
So when life gets a little too stressful it might be a good idea to add a pot of black tea and a plate of your favorite fruits and vegetables when you grab a book and relax. Even adding these simple yet beneficial foods to your diet can be a great start on your path toward a healthier and relaxed you.
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i James Joseph Chief, Neuroscience Laboratory, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Again at Tufts University
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