Choosing the right foods can actually help you reduce stress. Even the occasional chocolate indulgence can play a role in stress management.
How to Reduce Stress With Diet
Choosing the right foods can actually help you reduce stress. Even the occasional chocolate indulgence can play a role in stress management.
Have a Cup of Tea
Sometimes, it’s the effect of a food or drink that can help reduce stress, not necessarily its nutrients. A warm cup of tea can actually calm many people. There’s the soothing effect of sipping a warm drink, regardless of the flavor but certain herbs, like lavender and chamomile.
Indulge in Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate in the diet can reduce stress in two ways — its chemical impact and its emotional impact. Chocolate feels like such an indulgence that it can be a real treat to simply savor a piece of it, and that feeling alone can help to reduce stress. Dark chocolate, which is also rich in antioxidants, can also help to reduce stress by lowering levels of stress hormones in the body.
Choose Carbs
Carbohydrates have been found to increase levels of serotonin, a chemical in the body that can boost mood and reduce stress. Once serotonin levels are increased, people under stress experience improved cognitive function, meaning they can concentrate and work better. Just make sure to choose healthy carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and whole-grains for better nutrition, and limit fat-laden, calorie-dense toppings.
Enjoy Avocados
Avocados are not only delicious mashed into guacamole or sliced onto a salad but they are also packed with omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy essential acids are known to reduce stress and anxiety, boost concentration, and improve mood.
Eat Fatty Fish
Fatty fish are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and an excellent way to use diet and nutrition to reduce stress because they also offer a major benefit to cardiovascular health. Fatty fish include tuna, halibut, salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, and lake trout.
Make a Mug of Warm Milk
A centuries-old home remedy for getting a better night’s sleep, warm milk helps because it has a relaxing effect on the body. Calcium-rich foods are an essential part of a healthy diet for bone health, but they also help with stress reduction. Milk and other dairy foods with calcium and added vitamin D can help muscles relax and stabilize mood — one study even found that they can also ease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
