If you’re like me, you get hungry when you’re stressed out.
And with how much I’ve let stress pile on in the past, it’s quite literally a
miracle that the pounds didn’t also pound on. I go for the chocolate,
particularly hot chocolate, cookies, and sugary coffee drinks when I feel the
need to relax a little. And while some studies have shown that some dark chocolate can be good for you,
I don’t think they meant in the amount I want to consume it in.
Lots of people go for sugary snacks when stressed, myself included. Image from cookingclassy.com |
My main concern isn’t the chocolate itself, anyhow. It’s the
sugar that it comes loaded with—and which can actually exacerbate stress, gives
me headaches, and is overall a bad thing to have too much of. In fact, many
“fast,” “easy,” and “convenient” foods that people turn to when eating out of
stress are incredibly unhealthy, the eating of which can contribute to stress
levels.
Since I like to munch on something when I’m stressed or
working a lot, I try to surround myself with healthy snacks. And I was super
excited when I found this list of foods that can actually help reduce stress levels. Who knew I’d be
able to use my snacking habit to combat stress in a healthy way? Consider
eating these foods when you’re stressed (or when you want to prevent stress):
The Vitamin C in oranges could help reduce stress. Image: Shutterstock |
Sweet Potatoes—Besides
being one of my favorite foods ever, sweet potatoes make me feel like I’m
eating sweets and carbs when really I’m packing my body with vitamins,
betacarotene, and fiber.
Dried Apricots—These
delicious little guys are full of magnesium, a natural muscle relaxer and
stress-reducer (just don’t eat too many, since they’re pretty sugary).
Almonds, Pistachios
& Walnuts—Almonds have high levels of B and E vitamins, and pistachios
and Walnuts have been found to reduce blood pressure.
Turkey—L-tryptophan,
an amino acid, is found in turkey. It tells the body to release serotonin,
which is a natural mood booster and relaxer.
Green vegetables are full of stress-reducing vitamins. Image: Shutterstock |
Salmon—I was
never a huge fish fan, but I do like Salmon. That’s a good thing, since it’s
full of Omega-3 fatty acids, which help fight heart disease and regulate stress
hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline.
Avocados—Avocados
are a great source of monosaturated fats and potassium, which can help lower
blood pressure. It can also prevent symptoms of stress like muscle twitches and
spasms.
Green Vegetables—Any
dark green vegetable, such as spinach, broccoli, kale, and beans, is full of
vitamins. When we get stressed out, our bodies are sapped of vitamins and
energy. Remembering to eat healthy greens when stressed can go miles in keeping
stress under control.
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