Top 8 Foods That Reduce Stress (Skip the Wine and Ice Cream)

Everybody has their favorite comfort food.

Usually, it's whatever we were given as children when we were sad, or sick.

Sometimes it's the food that was used as part of a family celebration.

Unfortunately, most of the foods that we tend to think of as comfort foods are not very healthy. They're high in fat and sugar and can lead to insulin resistance and increased waistlines.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were foods that are good for us that could also help reduce stress?

Good news is: There are!

There are plenty of foods that can help us ease the symptoms of stress. They help us to produce mood boosters and chemicals that help get rid of stress and help to stabilize our blood sugar.

Top 8 Superfoods to Calm Your Nerves

1. Dark green leafy vegetables

Spinach, kale and other dark greens are high in folate.

Folate helps us to make serotonin and dopamine. Both of these are neurotransmitters that fight depression and stress.

Here are 5 warning signs that you need more leafy greens in your life.

2. Turkey

Turkey is one of those foods that is linked to happy memories and that is good for us too! It is high in tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that shifts to serotonin in our bodies.

When we eat foods high in tryptophan we are less likely to argue.

Other foods high in tryptophan include cage-free eggs and pumpkin seeds.

3. Foods that are fermented

We know you are thinking of wine and beer here, but let’s look elsewhere! When a food is fermented it contains good bacteria that can help boost your mood.

Good choices include yogurt and kombucha tea.

4. Wild caught salmon

Wild caught salmon is good for us for so many reasons, and it is a mood booster too.

Salmon contains omega-3 fats that studies show helps cut anxiety by 20%.

5. Blueberries

Blueberries and blackberries both contain anthocyanins. These are what gives them their deep color. They also help the brain make dopamine, a good mood chemical.

Blueberries also help us build more of the white blood cells that boost the immune system.

6. Pistachios

Did you know that these delicious nuts help to dilate your arteries? This means that you have less vascular constriction, and that means less stress on your heart.

That's not the only reason I count pistachios as one of my favorites either!

7. Dark chocolate

Chocolate makes us feel better for lots of reasons.

In addition to its delicious taste, it also contains anandamide. This is a neurotransmitter that blocks pain and depression.

One study showed that eating just 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate a day makes us feel calmer.

8. Avocado

The delicious green fruit gives us loads of minerals and vitamins and healthy fat. It also keeps our moods steady by helping us to feel full and controlling our blood sugars.

Yours in health and happiness,

Danette

P.S. Please share this list with your friends and don't forget to leave me a comment below.