What To Eat When You’re Stressed

 

Stress equals a family bar of Dairy Milk right? The sugar and fat in chocolate releases feel-good hormones that send instant relief to our brain and make us feel better. But the truth is, the relief doesn’t last long because once the sugar crash comes we’re in a whirlwind of ups and downs until things level out and we find ourselves back where we started, still stressed but feeling a bit sick after all the milk chocolate.

So with this in mind we got in touch with Frieda Arjuna, nutritionist at Life Sum

to find out what we should be eating during times of stress.

Here’s the top picks:

Dark leafy greens

Green leafy vegetables such kale and spinach will provide you with a healthy dose of calcium, helping to turn the amino acid in your brain into melatonin, and will help you to relax so perfect before going to bed or relive stress before an important meeting. Leafy greens are also low in fat and contain folate, magnesium and vitamin K. Folate produces dopamine which helps your brain stay relaxed and calm.

Complex-carbohydrates

Opt for complex carbs rather than simple carbs, this will not only make you feel fuller for longer but it will also provide the brain with serotonin and help to lower blood sugar. When you are stressed your blood sugar is high, so anything that helps to lower it is good. Complex carbohydrates like quinoa, brown rice or wholegrains are good options. Quinoa is especially beneficial for sleep because it will help relax the muscles due to its high magnesium and protein content. 

Probiotics

Keep your gut balanced; often when you’re stressed you feel it in your stomach. Foods that help you to keep it calm are for example natural yogurt and Kefir, which has a lot of healthy bacteria and probiotics.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Foods like avocado, salmon and flaxseeds increase the levels of serotonin in the body due to their high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and tryptophan. The omega-3 fatty acids have been known to relieve stress related symptoms that prevent sleep.

Magnesium

Almonds are rich in magnesium and tryptophan, helping to promote muscle relaxation and sleep. They also supply the body with protein, helping to stabilise blood sugar levels. Try replacing an unhealthy sugary dessert with natural yoghurt, honey and almonds.

Vitamin D

A glass of warm milk is one of the best natural remedies for sleep deprivation and helps you to feel more relaxed. Products rich in vitamin D such as dairy products improve the feeling of happiness and less panic feeling.

Glucose

It may seem strange to eat honey, a food packed with glucose, but studies have shown that the consumption of honey helps the liver to store glycogen. When the liver’s supply of glycogen runs out, the body starts to convert protein to muscle by producing stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenalin.