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In this busy world of rushing round, it’s no wonder that calm is often elusive. But instead of giving in to stress and eating unhealthy food that could hurt your wellbeing, you can help to relieve these feelings by eating foods that are naturally calming.
With stress and anxiety on the rise, according to the Cleveland Health Clinic, the foods you eat can either dial up or dial down internal stress levels. Choosing the right foods is important for your physical and mental health.
“We’re understanding more and more just how much food influences the body, ”Melissa Young, MD told Cleveland Health. “There’s clear medical evidence that nutrition affects our emotional wellbeing and can reduce the risk of anxiety.”
Here’s how you can eat your way to healing. Try some of these seven foods and drinks that could help you reduce stress and anxiety:
Avocados
Avocados are a superfood that is extremely beneficial for your brain and your mental wellbeing. That’s because these fruits are high in omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium; an essential mineral that most people do not get enough of in their diet. Magnesium can help to reduce anxiety by regulating your body’s cortisol – the stress hormone – levels. This mighty mineral can also help to balance neural transmitters.
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Salmon and Other Fatty Fish
Salmon is a great catch for helping to reduce anxiety and wild salmon contains more benefits than farmed fish. Salmon is a great source of omega-3s which can help reduce inflammation which helps to dial up anxiety. Fatty fish including salmon, tuna, herring, and sardines also contain protein, magnesium vitamin B12 and vitamin D.
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Yogurt
Yogurt is full of probiotics – beneficial bacteria – that can help improve gut health. Keeping your gut healthy has a connection to calming your body. That’s because there is a connection between your gut and your brain. Not all yogurt contains probiotics, so check the labels.
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Blueberries
Blueberries contain vitamin C and other antioxidants like flavonoids that have been proven to improve brain health and to help relieve anxiety according to Healthline. That is because antioxidants reduce the oxidative stress that can harm your body on a cellular level. Other berries are also particularly good for your health.
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Green Tea
Green tea contains L-theanine’s, an amino acid that has a strong calming effect because it increases dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, neurotransmitters that have been shown to decrease anxiety. L-theanine also decreases cortisol, the stress hormone that is linked to anxiety. This combination plays a very effective role in reducing anxiety and promoting calm. You can also mix it up and drink chamomile tea, which is also very calming due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and relaxing properties.
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Almonds
Almonds and other tree nuts are a great source of nutrients that promote brain health and mental wellbeing. It’s been proven that almonds could reduce the oxidative stress and inflammation that promotes stress and anxiety. Brazil nuts are particularly high in selenium – an antioxidant that may improve mood – according to MedicalNewsToday. But it is important not to eat more than three Brazil nuts a day because it is important not to exceed 400 micrograms of selenium per day.
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Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is a delicious way to reduce stress and anxiety. Dark chocolate – the darker the better – is a good source of polyphenols especially flavonoids that can reduce neuroinflammation in your brain. Chocolate also has a large tryptophan content that your body uses to turn into serotonin and magnesium that helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
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