Those foods you reach for when you’re working towards meeting a crazy deadline or feel frustrated after a long day at the office play a role in your stress levels. Here are some foods that will help you tackle the day and beat stress.
1. Eat Foods that Contain Tryptophan
Tryptophan is an amino acid that helps the brain produce serotonin, a chemical that enables you to relax. It also produces melatonin to boost sleepiness. Reach for foods rich in tryptophan when you can’t sleep or you’re in dire need of rest. Try foods such as milk, rice, cheddar cheese and chicken.
2. Go Bananas
Bananas are high in potassium, which is essential for regulating blood pressure. So if you’ve been stressed to the max and red-faced from frustration, this is a good addition to your diet to help you stay calm. It’s also a great relief for heartburn which can be aggravated by stress.
3. Omega-3s
Omega-3 foods such as salmon help to say good riddance to a bad mood and they prevent the stress hormones in the body from spiking. So they’re great to consume regularly, especially if you’re going through a stressful time.
4. Folic Acid
Folic acid is not only great for pregnant women, but it works to lower stress in the body and also prevent things like irritability. Foods that contain folic acid include broccoli, orange juice and asparagus.
5. Beat Tiredness!
Tired but you still need to do loads of things today? Then try eating magnesium to fight fatigue, which can often be a result of stress. Foods that contain magnesium include leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach.
6. Vitamin C
Did you know that Vitamin C helps to keep the body’s production of cortisol – the stress hormone – steady and under control? Pack some Vitamin C into your diet with berries, kiwi fruits, guavas and papayas.
