How to Choose Foods that Reduce Stress
Healthy eating can relieve and prevent stress along with medication and other forms of stress relief. Learning which foods to eat and which to avoid can help you feel better, happier and healthier. Follow these steps to choose foods that reduce stress in your life.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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Choose foods with protein to strengthen and maintain your muscles. Foods such as almonds, fish, sushi and lean beef help to reduce mental stress by keeping your body physically healthy.
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Eat unrefined "good" carbohydrates to improve your mood. While "bad" carbs, sugars and fats can worsen stress and bad mood feelings, whole grains such as brown rice, wheat pasta and breads can help level your blood sugar and relieve stress.
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Watch for vitamins and minerals such as potassium, iron, zinc and copper, which help prevent high blood pressure, transport oxygen through the blood and speed metabolic breakdown of proteins. You'll find these vitamins and minerals in foods such as chicken, liver, oysters, bananas and beans.
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Make fresh vegetables and vegetable juices a part of your stress reduction diet. Veggies of bright colors such as broccoli, carrots, peppers and asparagus are best.
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Look for fresh fruits, which give you plenty of Vitamin C and natural sugar. Some good choices are fruits such as cantaloupe, strawberries and blueberries.
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Drink low-fat milk and eat foods with calcium, such as low-fat cheese, cottage cheese and yogurt.
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Drink plenty of water. Water is key in any diet as it allows your body to flush out toxins and keep cells hydrated.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid fast food and excessive fats and preservatives.
Avoid excess salt and sodium, which can raise your blood pressure.
Avoid caffeine and sugar. Decaffeinated tea, such as chamomile, produces positive affects on mood, but if you are trying to reduce stress, stay away from highly caffeinated beverages.
