The Stress Reducing Diet

When you’re stressed out, the foods that you’re turning to are most likely going to

be traditional ‘comfort’ foods – think big meals, take-out, fatty foods, sweet foods,

and alcohol. Let’s face it – we’ve all found some comfort in a tasty meal and a

bottle of beer or glass of wine when we’ve been stressed out or upset about

something. However, this isn’t a good permanent solution.

When you’re munching on unhealthy foods, you can feel better temporarily, but in the

long run, you will feel worse. When your body isn’t getting the right nutrition, you

can begin to feel less energetic, more lethargic, and in some cases less able to

concentrate and focus. All of this can lead to even more stress.

Foods that Fight Stress

If you’ve been feeling more stressed out than usual lately, it’s important to know

which foods are best to choose and which to avoid when it comes to combating

stress and helping you to deal with feelings of stress and anxiety. The best way to

􀁽fight stress is to have a healthy, balanced diet which includes a moderate amount

of each of the different food groups.

Filling up on foods such as whole grains, leafy vegetables, and lean proteins as the

basic staples of the diet is the best way to ensure that your body gets the optimum

amounts of nutrients to 􀁽fight both physical and mental health problems. When it

comes to choosing the foods to eat, some have a range of great properties which

help the body to combat stress. Choosing these stress-busting foods will help to

heal and calm your mind permanently, rather than providing a temporary 􀁽fix.

Some of the best stress-􀁽fighting foods include:

Avocado – Avocados are a creamy and versatile fruit which can be eaten in a range

of different ways whether you enjoy it raw, made into sauces, dressings and dips, or

in a smoothie.

These nutrient-dense fruits have the properties to stress-proof your

body, thanks to their high glutathione content which blocks the

intestinal absorption of certain fats which cause oxidative damage.

Avocados also contain higher levels of vitamin E, folate, and beta-carotene than any other fruit, which boosts their stress-busting properties. However, be careful with portion control when eating avocado, as it is high in fat.

Blueberries – If you’re feeling stressed out and reaching for the snacks, swapping

chocolate or chips for one of the best superfoods is a great way to help you deal

with your stress levels and achieve a higher level of calm.

Blueberries have some of the highest levels of antioxidants, especially antho-cyanin, which means that this berry has been linked to a wide range of health bene􀁽ts including sharper

cognition, better focus, and a clearer mind – all of which can help you to better deal with stress.

Chamomile Tea – Of course, it’s not all about what you’re eating when it comes to

managing stress; what you’re drinking can also alleviate or worsen the stress you're

feeling. Drinking liquids that are high in sugars and caffeine, such as coffee,

energy drinks or soda, can actually increase your stress levels if consumed

regularly.

Chamomile tea has long been used as a natural bedtime soother, and it

has also been used in clinical trials, which determined that chamomile tea is

effective in reducing the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Chocolate – Although it’s usually seen as an unhealthy treat, there is an

undeniable link between chocolate and our mood. Studies have shown that eating

chocolate can actually make you happier. However, that doesn’t mean that you

can start munching on chocolate bars every time you're stressed out – chocolate

works best as a de-stressor when eaten in moderation and as part of a healthy and

balanced diet.

Dark chocolate is best for you, as it contains more 􀁾avonols and polyphenols, two hugely important antioxidants which can help combat stress, more than many fruit juices.

Beef – Grass-fed beef is not only kinder to the planet and to animals, it’s also good

for people, too. Grass-fed beef has a huge range of antioxidants, including betacarotene

and Vit-amins C and E, which can help your body to 􀁽fight stress and anxiety.

If you’re looking for more reasons to spend a little more money on organic, grass-fed beef, it’s also lower in fat than grain-fed beef whilst being higher in

omega-3.

Oatmeal – Oatmeal is great in that it can be a 􀁽filling comfort food, but also has a

large number of healthy properties to actually make you feel better from the

inside out.

A complex carbohydrate, eating oatmeal causes your brain to produce

higher levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin, helping you to feel calmer and

less stressed.

Studies have shown that kids who choose oatmeal for breakfast tend to be much sharper throughout the morning in school compared to kids who had alternative morning meals.

Walnuts – If you’re looking for a healthy snacking option which will help you to stay

better in control of your stress levels, walnuts are a great choice. A versatile nut, walnuts are great for salads, or add them to a sweet treat such as coffee and walnut cake.

Pistachios – another food that is great for snacking on and can also help to

combat stress and anxiety in the long term is pistachios. Studies have found that

simply eating two small, snack-size portions of pistachios per day can lower

vascular constriction when you are stressed, putting less pressure on your heart by

further dilating your arteries. Along with this, the rhythmic, repetitive act of

shelling pistachios can actually be quite therapeutic!

Green Leafy Vegetables – leafy, green vegetables should be a pivotal part of

anyone’s diet. Along with helping to combat stress, leafy greens are full of nutrients

and antioxidants which help to 􀁽fight off disease and leave your body feeling

healthier and more energized. Dark leafy greens, for example spinach, are

especially good for you since they are rich in folate, which helps your body to

produce more mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which is a

‘feel-good’ chemical. Making leafy greens a part of your diet will help you to feel

happier and less stressed out overall.

Fermented foods – last but not least, eating fermented foods such as yogurt can

help to keep your gut healthy, which actually in turn will help to improve your

mental health and reduce stress levels. The beneficial bacteria which are found in

fermented foods such as yogurt actually have a direct effect on your brain

chemistry and transmit positive mood and behavior regulating signals to your

brain via the vagus nerve.

Putting Together Your Diet Plan

Planning your meals wisely is key to not only staying physically fi􀁽t and healthy, but

also to staying mentally strong and being able to best manage your levels of stress.

Knowing which foods to avoid and which are the best to reach for to snack on

when you’re feeling worried and anxious is important to helping you get control

over your emotions and fears.

When you’re feeling stressed, you may be tempted to reach for classic ‘comfort

foods’ – usually foods that are laden with sugar, very starchy, or greasy. However,

although these foods can make you feel momentarily better, they will actually

make you feel worse in the long run.

Having stress-busting snacks such as fresh berries, dark chocolate, yogurt, walnuts

or pistachios, or even a fruit smoothie with avocado and leafy greens in it can help

you to feel better in both the short and long term when it comes to stress. When it

comes to combating and dealing with stress in the long run, it’s important to

make sure that for the most part, you are eating a diet that is healthy and

balanced.

In order to stay on track, it’s a good idea to make a meal plan for your week and

plan ahead to make sure that you have a good selection of stress-busting

foods in your kitchen to make meals and snacks from when you’re feeling like

stress-eating. Making sure that the majority of your meals include foods such as

lean proteins and leafy green vegetables will not only make you feel healthier

overall, but can improve your mental health and stress levels, too.

A good example of a healthy, stress-busting menu would be:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with berries or a fruit smoothie with avocado and berries

Mid-morning snack: Natural yogurt with fruit or a handful of pistachio nuts

Lunch: A whole-grain pasta salad fi􀁽lled with plenty of leafy greens

Afternoon snack: Dark chocolate

Dinner: Grass-fed beef with vegetables

Before bed: Chamomile tea

Of course, you don’t need to stick to this menu – but it gives you a good idea!

Remember to exercise good portion control when eating foods such as nuts,

chocolate, yogurt or avocado!

As the saying goes, you are what you eat – so make sure that fi􀁽rst and foremost, you’re fi􀁽lling yourself up with foods which are good for your mental health.