There are stressful situations such as loss of loved ones, loss of job, severe setbacks, poor health, or a general adverse situation. Stress is caused by the reaction of the body to these situations. Primordial instincts include fortifying the body with food and preparing the body for a fight. This will result in increased activity in terms of heightened blood pressure and heart activity.
But when the fight does not happen, the body still remains in a heightened state of anxiety and the food gets mostly stored as fat. Hence the need to eat healthy during stressful situations so that minimal fat is stored and minimizes health risks from overeating. The food chosen should be such that reduces the secretion of cortisol. Cortisol is the hormone secreted from the adrenal gland during a stressful situation and it is cortisol that increases blood pressure and blood sugar in the body.
Foods That Relieves Anxiety And Stress!
Stress management also includes lots of exercises and proper sleep of at least 7 to 8 hours. The foods that are recommended for eating during stressful situations include those high in vitamins particularly vitamin B12 that helps digest cortisol, foods high in protein, Omega III fatty acids, magnesium-rich foods, and gut-healthy foods.
The recommended food high in Vitamin B12 are eggs, chicken, nutritional yeast, and fortified cereals. The foods high in Omega III fatty acids are avocadoes, chia seeds, flax seeds, Herring, olive oil, oysters, salmon, sardines, anchovies, tuna, and walnuts. The magnesium-rich foods for relieving stress include bananas, dark chocolate, avocadoes, and spinach, and pumpkin seed. Magnesium-rich foods also metabolize carnosol, help reduce inflammation and also help relax the body. Protein-rich foods help stabilize blood sugar levels in the body. Common protein-rich foods include lentils, tuna, salmon, shrimp, quinoa, and eggs.
There are good bacteria in the body that need to be nourished to keep the body healthy and strong in a stressful situation. Foods good for the stomach include yogurts, sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, and kombucha. The yogurt that is to be consumed needs to be free of sugar and additives. Most of these foods contain probiotics and prebiotics that nourish the beneficial bacteria that help in fighting right and keep the digestive system healthy in such situations.
All the above foods are to be consumed consistently and in low quantities in each meal. The foods should be raw or lightly cooked with minimal oil or grease.
There are specific foods to be avoided. These include junk food, foods rich in sugar such as cakes, pastries, and sweet desserts. Other foods to be avoided are caffeinated foods and soda.
There are some special very healthy foods that need to be kept handy for consumption in a stressful situation. One of these is the Matcha green tea powder. This tea powder contains L theanine which is a non-protein amino acid and very few foods contain this source of amino acid for dealing with a stressful situation.
Swiss chard is another special health food very good for beating stress. Swiss chard alone contains 36% of the amount of magnesium required by the body and is great for reducing stress and anxiety levels.
While carbohydrate-rich foods should be avoided, nutritious carbs such as sweet potatoes are highly recommended as they are rich in vitamin C and potassium.
Another especially nutrient-rich food highly recommended to beat stress is artichokes. Artichokes contain fructooligosaccharides which are strong prebiotics. Artichokes also contain high levels of potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin K which help to decrease stress levels.
Arcola is a powder that is added to beverages and twice the amount of vitamin C found in Citrus fruits. Food rich in Antioxidants is very good and healthy in a stressful situation. Antioxidants tackle oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals that are found in the body during stressful situations. One of the best foods with antioxidants is parsley. Another anti-oxidant is garlic. Garlic contains the antioxidant called glutathione which is a very strong antioxidant that helps calm the body during a stressful situation and even reduces anxiety levels.
We must remember stress is caused by the reaction of the body to an adverse situation and we need to work on our bodies and our food to reduce the effects in order to lead healthy lives.