10 Vegan Foods That Calm & De-Stress
Being stressed out is a sure way to prevent you from reaching your health and fitness goals and chronic stress can cause illness over time.
Is all stress bad?
No. There is nothing wrong with having a little stress. We need some stress to keep us motivated to take action on the things we want to accomplish in life and do run in times of danger.
The problem comes when stress is chronic. The long-term activation of the stress-response system, which releases cortisol other stress hormones, can disrupt almost all your body's processes. This puts you at increased risk of numerous health problems, including:
Anxiety
Depression
Digestive problems
Headaches
Heart disease
Sleep problems
Weight gain
Memory
Loss of focus
It is important to learn stress reduction techniques in order have have long-term health. You can reduce stress by:
Spending a few minutes in silence every day
Breathe
Do yoga, tai chi or other mind-body exercise
Daily physical exercise
Eating healthy, whole foods
To reduce your stress with food add these 10 foods into your diet:
Dark leafy greens like spinach are rich in folate, which helps your body produce mood-regulating neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine. (Dr. Mercola, 2015)
Fermented foods such as kombucha, kimchi and sauerkraut nourish your gut flora and is extremely important to support a positive mood.
Dark berries like blueberries are rich in antioxidants that aid your brain in the production of dopamine, a chemical that is critical to coordination, memory function, and your mood.
Dark chocolate has even been referred to as "the new anti-anxiety drug." One study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology revealed that drinking an antioxidant-rich chocolate drink equal to about 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate daily felt calmer than those who did not. (Dr. Mercola, 2015)
Seaweed is rich is magnesium, which acts as a precursor for neurotransmitters like serotonin and is well-known for its role in helping to regulate your emotions and enhance well-being.
Seeds are also rich in magnesium, which helps to calm the body and mind.
Avocados are rich in healthy fats that keep you satisfied longer and are shown to help regulate blood sugar. This combination of satiety and blood-sugar regulation can help keep your mood steady, even in times of stress.
Asparagus is high in folate, which is has been shown to keep you calm.
Chamomile tea helps relax the body and is often used to promote sleep.
Garlic is jam-packed with powerful antioxidants, which help keep the immune system strong and reduce the negative effects of stress.
