We all have different stress triggers in life, whether it’s relationships, work, or self-esteem issues. If you can never seem to relax, your diet could be part of the reason. When our brains are overwhelmed, it’s tempting to turn to processed, high-calorie foods, which provide a quick boost before turning into a miserable crash. When you’re stressed, treat your body like a temple and your mental health will benefit. Here are our favorite foods to reduce your daily anxiety and increase your energy.
1. Olive oil
Stay away from the ranch dressing and drizzle two tablespoons of healthy olive oil over your salad.
Daily consumption of olive oil has been shown to increase serotonin. We suggest opting for EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) which is lightly processed and contains tons of healthy phenols. Store your olive oil in a cool, dark place and be sure to always cover it so the benefits are not diminished.
2. Spinach
Many grimace when it comes to spinach, but we’re not talking about the wilted, limp variety. Add nuts, goat cheese, and fruit to a raw spinach salad for a refreshing treat. It is high in folic acid, which causes our body to produce serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters will encourage relaxation rather than increasing adrenaline and cortisol. By far the tastiest way to get folic acid.
3. Black tea
If you need an invigorating, caffeinated drink to get you through the morning, we suggest switching to black tea. Coffee leaves you jittery all day, but black tea actually reduces cortisol and stress hormones faster than herbal tea drinkers! Tea contains all kinds of benefits such as polyphenols, flavonoids and catechins. Those are all fancy ways of saying that black tea will make your neurotransmitters happy.
4. Red peppers
Always our favorite red peppers, sliced and dipped in hummus, they are packed with vitamin C, which has the ability to ward off those nasty free radicals and stress hormones. If you eat them raw (like our suggested hummus idea), the antioxidants will have much more staying power. However, if you prefer them stir-fried, you can also get your daily dose of vitamin C that way.
5. Steel cut oats
Oats are generally full of fiber, which is great for health and keeping your bowels regular. However, steel cut oats contain the most concentrated amount of nutrients and help stabilize blood sugar level. It is when the blood sugar level goes up and down (thanks to refined sugar) that we encounter some problems.
