Eat Your Way to Less Stress
By Sara Butler
Stress is a part of life and anxiety seems to lurk around every corner. When you're feeling stressed out and anxious, your body has its own way to respond. Your levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, shoot through the roof -- and when that happens it can put your continued health and wellness in peril. But fear not, because there are a few foods you can incorporate into your diet to help you deal with stress.
Walnuts
Nuts are full of unsaturated fats that are healthy for your heart, but they also help to boost your mood. The omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium in walnuts impact your serotonin and dopamine levels, both of which have some bearing on your mood. Magnesium works to reset your cortisol levels while the omega-3 fatty acids help to prevent symptoms of depression. So, incorporate walnuts into your diet to help you deal with feelings of stress.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal triggers the release of serotonin in your brain, which means eating a bowl of oatmeal fills you up and helps to give your mood a boost. When your brain produces serotonin, then your appetite decreases and the pain recedes, helping you to feel calmer.
Bananas
Bananas are a lot of things: inexpensive, easy to find, and compact. They also happen to be great mood boosters! The complex carbohydrates in bananas help to improve the transport of tryptophan to the brain. Once it's there, it gets turned into serotonin -- that good old feel-good chemical. Bananas also contain amino acids that help to balance dopamine in the brain to help your body to work more optimally. So you feel good in both body and mind!
Salmon
Just like walnuts, you can find healthy omega-3 fatty acids in salmon. They're important to the proper function of your brain. Many studies have found that mood, behavior, and memory can all be impacted by the amount of omega-3 fatty acids you eat. Add a little salmon into your diet for a mood boost.
Potatoes
Potatoes are the rock stars of the mood-boosting world. They're a great source of Vitamin C, which helps to boost your body's production of serotonin. Plus, all that Vitamin C is great for your immune system, so you'll be in a better mood and ward off common colds all at once.
You are what you eat! So eat foods that help your body deal with stress so you can be healthier and happier!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fontana, Calif.