10 of the Best Foods to Reduce Stress Naturally #stress #reducestress #naturalhealth #choosehappy #eatwell

One excellent way to relieve your stress the natural way is to use nutrition.

The foods you choose to eat or not eat can make a large impact in how you feel on an emotional level. 

It is important that you feed your body nutritious foods instead of turning to stress eating junk food. 



10 of the Best Foods to Reduce Stress Naturally

The diet that you consume each day can reduce your stress naturally so that you don’t need to take medications that cause unpleasant side effects.

Make sure to create meal plans that contain these 10 foods so that you can have less anxiety:

1. Spinach

Spinach is a highly nutritious dark leafy green that contains iron, vitamin C and tryptophan.

When you consume tryptophan, it helps to calm your mind along with relaxing your nervous system. 

Use spinach in salads and on sandwiches. 



2. Oranges & Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits, such as grapefruits, oranges and strawberries, are high in vitamin C.

There was a study done that showed that people who took 3,000 milligrams of vitamin C were able to lower their cortisol levels.

Even though you can get vitamin C from citrus fruits, you will likely have to take a supplement in order to reach 3,000 milligrams per day.

But oranges do contain vitamin C and antioxidants that will boost your body’s immune system.

With a healthier immune system, the cortisol levels in your body will decrease, helping to reduce your anxiety. 




3. Blueberries

Delicious blueberries are considered a superfood that is recommended for making smoothie beverages or baked goods.

This fruit contains the antioxidants, iron and vitamin A that your body requires to overcome the bad effects of a stressful lifestyle. 



4. Almonds

When you eat almonds, you are ingesting vitamin E that helps to reduce the free radicals in your body’s cells.

If you are experiencing stress, then your body’s glands release hormones that will damage the cells in your mind and body, but almonds can repair this damage. 



5. Avocado

Avocadoes contain several types of vitamin B, and this nutrient helps to reduce your mind’s anxiety levels.

You can use avocado slices in a salad, or you can mash avocado to create a tasty dip for tortilla chips. 

This Vegan Buddha Bowl Recipe contains avocado and tons of other nutritious goodies!



6. Dark Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the foods that many people crave during times of stress.

If you love chocolate, then you should choose dark chocolate over milk chocolate.

Dark chocolate has antioxidants that can help reduce the stress hormones, such as cortisol, in the body. 

In fact, there was a study done that showed that people who ate 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate per day were able to lower their stress.

When you feel anxious, you may crave dark chocolate because this delicious treat contains a lot of antioxidants.

By eating a small amount of dark chocolate each day, you can have a reduction in the fight-or-flight chemicals in your body. 



7. Asparagus

After eating asparagus, the vitamin B in this vegetable helps your brain to produce dopamine.

This chemical improves your overall mood so that you feel less anxious on a daily basis. 

Try one or more of these delicious asparagus recipes next time it's in season.



8. Oatmeal

Oatmeal can help your body produce more serotonin. It is also high in healthy carbs.

The complex carbs in oatmeal are digested slowly, so they will not cause your blood sugar to spike.

Begin your day with a bowl of hot steel-cut oatmeal, overnight oats or granola oats.

When you are experiencing stress, it is important to eat comfort foods, and warm oatmeal helps your brain to release serotonin that will improve your mood. 



9. Nuts

Stress depletes the B vitamins in your body, but those same B vitamins help to control your flight or fight response. 

Nuts are filled with B vitamins and also potassium, which can help lower your blood pressure.

Nuts contain a lot of protein and vitamin B, both of which can help you with your fight or flight stress response.

It is also very easy to add more nuts to your daily diet.

You can have a snack of nuts and cheese, add some slivered almonds or chopped cashews to the top of your salad, or simply grab a handful of peanuts in the evenings when you want a quick and tasty snack. 



10. Green, Leafy Vegetables

All vegetables are good for you and many of them will help you with your stress levels.

However, green leafy vegetables are among the best to turn to.

These contain folate, which is a type of nutrient that can actually produce dopamine and keep you calm while also improving your mood and focus.

Some good leafy greens to try include kale, spinach as mentioned above, and different types of lettuce. 



The best thing you can do is focus on having a lot of nutrients in your diet, such as increasing vitamins and minerals you have each day.

Try to eat more lean protein, dairy, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and of course nuts and seeds.

Take care of yourself.


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