EAT YOUR STRESS AWAY WITH THESE SIMPLE TIPS
Last Updated on July 27, 2021 by ELLEASH
This post will detail how you can actually eat your stress away with these simple tips. With the current situation, we are all experiencing more febrile moments, where our will-power is put to the test, concerning our diet. This obviously isn’t helping with our anxiety or stress levels, which are heightened by the uncertainty of all this dang Covid! Read on and learn what the best foods are to help your stress levels and to ease your anxiety a little more naturally.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission with every purchase you make through my links, and of course, at no additional cost to you. I do greatly appreciate it, as it helps me run my blog and post content that will help you in your daily life. Please read the full disclosure here. Oh, and just in case â I am NOT a mental health professional! What I write are my experiences, tips & personal advice. If you are in need of help, please don’t hesitate to contact a professional! Please read the full disclosure here concerning that point. Okay, that’s out of the way – READ ON!!
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
EAT YOUR STRESS AWAY WITH THESE SIMPLE TIPS
Hey hey my lovely entrepreneurs,
France has been hit again with another lockdown in certain regions, and Paris is obviously one of them. The good news is that our little ones are still in school, so it does leave us a little more time to ourselves, but we are still having to either go into work, or work-from-home – that is if we are those lucky enough to still have a job!
The global pandemic in itself is dang stressful, but on top of that adding the stress of not knowing how long the situation will last, what the future will really reserve us, it’s not the best of times to be envisioning anything super bright!
And, unfortunately, the one thing that tends to help us in these overwhelming moments is FOOD!!!
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
I know that when I’m stressed out, the foods that I turn to are always going to be traditional âcomfortâ foods â think big meals, take-out, fatty foods, sweet foods, and alcohol. Letâs face it â weâve all found some comfort in a tasty meal and a bottle of beer or glass of wine when weâve been stressed out or upset about something. However, this isnât a good permanent solution.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
I know right?! Total bummer! However, we are all guilty of it, and I know first-hand, that the shelf in out pantry, that has all the ‘good’ stuff, does get raided every now and again, when I am in a slump or just feeling overwhelmed!
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Yet, when youâre turning to unhealthy foods you can feel better temporarily, but in the long run, you will feel worse. When your body isnât getting the right nutrition, you can begin to feel less energetic, more lethargic, and in some cases less able to concentrate and focus. All of this can lead to even more stress.
Jed Owen on Unsplash
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Some related posts:
- 10 Natural Ways To Relieve Your Stress Levels Naturally
- Water Is The Key To Your Natural Beauty
- The Exact Things I Did Last Month To Stay On Track With My Mental Health
Click below or here if you want 7 more awesome tips to naturally alleviate stress.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
10 Foods that Fight Stress
If youâve been feeling more stressed out than usual lately, itâs important to know which foods are best to choose and which to avoid when it comes to combating stress and helping you to deal with feelings of stress and anxiety. The best way to fight stress is to have a healthy, balanced diet which includes a moderate amount of each of the different food groups.
Unsplash
Filling up on foods such as whole grains, leafy vegetables, and lean proteins as the basic staples of the diet is the best way to ensure that your body gets the optimum amounts of nutrients to fight both physical and mental health problems. When it comes to choosing the foods to eat, some have a range of great properties which help the body to combat stress. Choosing these stress-busting foods will help to heal and calm your mind permanently, rather than providing a temporary fix.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
10 of the best stress-fighting foods include:
Avocado â Avocados are a creamy and versatile fruit which can be eaten in a range of different ways whether you enjoy it raw, made into sauces, dressings and dips, or in a smoothie. These nutrient-dense fruits have the properties to stress-proof your body, thanks to their high glutathione content which specifically blocks the intestinal absorption of certain fats which cause oxidative damage. Avocados also contain higher levels of vitamin E, folate, and beta-carotene than any other fruit, which boosts their stress-busting properties. However, be careful with portion control when eating avocado, as it is high in fat.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Unsplash
Blueberries â If youâre feeling stressed out and reaching for the snacks, swapping chocolate or chips for one of the best superfoods is a great way to help you deal with your stress levels and achieve a higher level of calm. Blueberries have some of the highest levels of antioxidants, especially antho-cyanin, which means that this berry has been linked to a wide range of health benefits including sharper cognition, better focus, and a clearer mind â all of which can help you to better deal with stress.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Chamomile Tea â Of course, itâs not all about what youâre eating when it comes to managing stress; what youâre drinking can also alleviate or worsen the stress you’re feeling. Drinking liquids which are high in sugars and caffeine, such as coffee, energy drinks or soda, can actually increase your stress levels if consumed regularly. Chamomile tea has long been used as a natural bedtime soother, and it has also been used in clinical trials, which determined that chamomile tea is effective in reducing the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Chocolate â Although itâs usually seen as an unhealthy treat, there is an undeniable link between chocolate and our mood. Studies have shown that eating chocolate can actually make you happier. However, that doesnât mean that you can start munching on chocolate bars every time you’re stressed out â chocolate works best as a de-stressor when eaten in moderation and as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Dark chocolate in particular is best for you, as it contains more flavonols and polyphenols, two hugely important antioxidants which can help combat stress, more than many fruit juices.
Clarisse Kenion on Unsplash
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Tristan Gassert on Unsplash
Beef â Grass-fed beef is not only kinder to the planet and to animals, itâs also good for people, too. Grass-fed beef has a huge range of antioxidants, including beta-carotene and Vitamins C and E, which can help your body to fight stress and anxiety. If youâre looking for more reasons to spend a little more money on organic, grass-fed beef, itâs also lower in fat than grain-fed beef whilst being higher in omega-3.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Unsplash
Oatmeal â Oatmeal is great in that it can be a filling comfort food, but also has a large number of healthy properties to actually make you feel better from the inside out. A complex carbohydrate, eating oatmeal causes your brain to produce higher levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin, helping you to feel calmer and less stressed. Studies have shown that kids who choose oatmeal for breakfast tend to be much sharper throughout the morning in school compared to kids who had alternative morning meals. I grew up on it, but living in France, little C much prefers bread! But she is starting to get accustomed to eating it. I suggest it to her about twice a week, usually once on the weekends. It is true that is definitely fills her up and she can go longer without asking for a mid-morning snack!
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Unsplash
Walnuts â If youâre looking for a healthy snacking option which will help you to stay better in control of your stress levels, walnuts are a great choice. There is no denying the sweet, pleasant flavor of walnuts and they can be a tasty snack for in-between meals or as part of a desert. A versatile nut, walnuts are great for salads, or add them to a sweet treat such as coffee and walnut cake. Walnuts tend to give me mouth ulcers! I love them though, so I switch it up with almonds, as a mid-morning snack, sometimes.
Whilst pregnant, I would always feel peckish around 10:30 in the morning, yet it wasn’t the best time for me to take a break. Classes running usually for 2 hour blocks, so I’d be either too early or too late, if I started at 8:00 A.M.! So, I took to having a little box filled with almonds and walnuts, and whenever my students would be working, I’d pop a few in my mouth and it would be great for those rumbling-stomach-moments!
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Pistachios â another food which is great for snacking on and can also help to combat stress and anxiety in the long term is pistachios. Studies have found that simply eating two small, snack-size portions of pistachios per day can lower vascular constriction when you are stressed, putting less pressure on your heart by further dilating your arteries. Along with this, the rhythmic, repetitive act of shelling pistachios can actually be quite therapeutic!
Unsplash
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Unsplash
Green Leafy Vegetables â leafy, green vegetables should be a pivotal part of anyoneâs diet. Along with helping to combat stress, leafy greens are full of nutrients and antioxidants which help to fight off disease and leave your body feeling healthier and more energized. Dark leafy greens, for example spinach, are especially good for you since they are rich in folate, which helps your body to produce more mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which is a âfeel-goodâ chemical. Making leafy greens a part of your diet will help you to feel happier and less stressed out overall.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Unspalsh
Fermented foods â last but not least, eating fermented foods such as yogurt can help to keep your gut healthy, which actually in turn will help to improve your mental health and reduce stress levels. The beneficial bacteria which are found in fermented foods such as yogurt actually have a direct effect on your brain chemistry and transmit positive mood and behavior regulating signals to your brain via the vagus nerve.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Putting Together Your Diet Plan
Planning your meals wisely is key to not only staying physically fit and healthy, but also to staying mentally strong and being able to best manage your levels of stress. Knowing which foods to avoid and which are the best to reach for to snack on when youâre feeling worried and anxious is important to helping you get control over your emotions and fears.
When youâre feeling stressed, you may be tempted to reach for classic âcomfort foodsâ â usually foods which are laden with sugar, very starchy, or greasy. However, although these foods can make you feel momentarily better, they will actually make you feel worse in the long run.
Having stress-busting snacks such as those mentioned previously: fresh berries, dark chocolate, yogurt, walnuts or pistachios, or even a fruit smoothie with avocado and leafy greens in it can help you to feel better in both the short and long term when it comes to stress.When it comes to combating and dealing with stress in the long run, itâs important to make sure that for the most part, you are eating a diet which is healthy and balanced.
In order to stay on track, itâs a good idea to make a meal plan for your week and plan ahead to make sure that you have a good selection of these stress-busting foods in your kitchen to make meals and snacks from when youâre feeling like stress-eating. Making sure that the majority of your meals include foods such as lean proteins and leafy green vegetables will not only make you feel healthier overall, but can improve your mental health and stress levels, too.
If meal planning is something you are interested in, click below and you can download it for FREE!
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Some related posts:
- 10 Natural Ways To Relieve Your Stress Levels Naturally
- Water Is The Key To Your Natural Beauty
- The Exact Things I Did Last Month To Stay On Track With My Mental Health
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
A good example of a healthy, stress-busting menu would be:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with berries or a fruit smoothie with avocado and berries
Mid-morning snack: Natural yogurt with fruit or a handful of pistachio nuts
Lunch: A whole-grain pasta salad filled with plenty of leafy greens
Afternoon snack: Dark chocolate
Dinner: Grass-fed beef with vegetables
Before bed: Chamomile tea
Of course, you donât need to stick to this menu â but it gives you a good idea, on what you can eat to help reduce your stress. Remember to exercise good portion control when eating foods such as nuts, chocolate, yogurt or avocado!
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
The Takeaway
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that ‘comfort’ foods are the ones we automatically gravitate towards when feeling down and just plained stressed-out.
The important point to remember is that this isn’t the best long-term solution. Instant gratification, shouldn’t be your goal when it comes to healthy eating, nor to anything in life really! You need to be thinking about what foods are going to help you in the long-run. In this case, we want to be eating our stress away with super yummy and healthy foods!
To recap, the 10 of the best stress-fighting foods include avocado, blueberries, chocolate, chamomille tea, beef, oatmeal, walnuts, pistachios, greeny-leafy vegetables and fermented products, such as yogurts.
As the saying goes, you are what you eat â so make sure that first and foremost, youâre filling yourself up with foods which are good for your mental health.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
I hope you enjoyed this piece about the top foods you can consume to eat your stress away! If you did enjoy reading it, be sure to check out my other self-care and healthy lifestyle content. Don’t forget your FREE meal planning bundle that you can download here.
Elle Ash xo
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
