10 Foods That Help Fight Stress!

Feeling stressed out from work or home problems? Its time to rethink your comfort foods.

More often than not simply just eating something can make you feel better but there is a big difference between tapping into a food’s inherently calming properties and using any food as a kind of emotional anesthesia.

The temporary calm you get from indulging in junk food or sweets usually wears off leaving you feeling annoyed for eating as much as you did.

Stress causes your cortisol levels to rise which in turn results in cravings particularly for carbs, and sweet foods.

However there are meals and snacks that will truly soothe and calm as a result of the nutrients or energy they provide. Check out our top 10 picks!

1) Asparagus

These slender sticks are high in folate which is essential to keeping your cool. Steam them lightly and add them to your salad.

Asparagus [Photo/blog.foodnetwork.com]

These creamy fruits stress-proof your body as they are high in glutathione, a substance that specifically blocks intestinal absorption of certain fats that cause oxidative damage. They also contain lutein, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and more folate than any other fruit.

Avocado [Photo/theirishmother.blogspot.com]

These nuts are not only a tasty snack but also an especially good source of zinc—a 1-ounce serving has 11 percent of your RDA. Low levels of zinc have been linked to both anxiety and depression. Since our bodies have no way of storing zinc, it’s important to get some every day.

Cashew Nuts [Photo/beautynglam.blogspot.com]

This sweet treat has an undeniable link to mood and studies have shown that both women and men eat more chocolate as depressive symptoms increase. Dark chocolate, in particular, is known to lower blood pressure, adding to a feeling of calm. It contains more polyphenols and flavonols—two important types of antioxidants—than some fruit juices.

Dark chocolate [Photo/guardian.co.uk]

This plant is full of antioxidants and among the compounds in garlic is allicin, which has been linked to fending off heart disease, cancer, and even the common cold. Because stress weakens our immune system, we need friends like garlic, which can toughen it back up.

Garlic [Photo/gardening.ktsa.com]

Green tea contains an amino acid called theanine which in addition to protecting against some types of cancer, is a brain booster as well, enhancing mental performance. Try and aim to drink two cups each day.

Green tea [Photo/mnn.com]

Talk about comfort food! A complex carbohydrate, oatmeal causes your brain to produce serotonin, a feel-good chemical. Not only does serotonin have antioxidant properties, it also creates a soothing feeling that helps overcome stress. Studies have shown that kids who eat oatmeal for breakfast stay sharper throughout the morning.

Oatmeal [Photo/muscleandfitness.com]

A Vitamin C powerhouse, oranges have the added benefit of being portable and their tough skin keeps them well protected in your bags or purse. Experiment with all varieties including clementines and mineolas.

Oranges [Photo/prevention.com]

These famous aphrodisiacs also have high levels of zinc! Six oysters which is the typical restaurant serving is more than half the required daily amount of the mineral!

Oysters [Photo/thimbleislandoysters.com]

These sweet flavored nuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fatty acid, and other polyphenols that have been shown to help prevent memory loss. Research has shown walnuts even reverse some signs of brain aging.

Walnuts [Photo/kitchennstitchin.blogspot.com]