We’re happy that it’s springtime, but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t still stressed out from winter.  Perhaps, if you’re doing some sort of weight-loss program, you might be stressing because you’re not seeing the results you want instantly.  Or maybe you’re feeling pressure from family, friends, or co-workers.  No matter the source, we all face stress at one time or another.  And what do most people do when stressed? They eat!  Luckily, I stumbled across this article yesterday from Woman’s Day by Sara Reistad-Long which could help us out with both…

8 Foods that Fight Stress: Chow down on eats that
tame hunger and reduce anxiety

Eat It to Beat It!  We all know that tension can wreak havoc on our eating patterns. But the right (healthy!) foods can often help tame mindless munching and cravings and, better yet, actually lower overall anxiety and its symptoms. Eight of our favorites:

Dark Chocolate
High in flavonoids, which are lauded for their relaxing properties (chamomile tea is another great source), chocolate also contains phenethylamine, a chemical that enhances your mood. The darker the chocolate, the more healthy substances you’re getting in your diet, so look for bars that are 70 percent cacao or higher.

Skim Milk
Turns out that a glass of warm milk really is calming. One study found that women who drank four or more servings of lowfat or skim milk every day were about half as likely to experience stress-related PMS symptoms than those who drank less than one serving a week.

Oatmeal
Carbs help you produce serotonin, a calming hormone that helps fight anxiety’s negative effects-which is probably why many of us crave them when we’re stressed. Go with the craving and choose healthy sources. Oatmeal is high in fiber, which means that your body will absorb it slowly. In one fell swoop, you’ll prolong the serotonin boost, keeping yourself feeling full for longer (and on less) and making sure your blood sugar’s in check.

Salmon
Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids-abundant in fish like salmon-can help reverse stress symptoms by boosting serotonin levels, and that an omega-3-rich diet can also help suppress the production of the anxiety hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

Walnuts
They’ve been shown to help lower blood pressure, which is critical for those whose hearts are already working overtime thanks to high adrenaline levels. In fact, research so strongly backs their health benefits that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration goes so far as to recommend 1 1/2 oz per day.

Sunflower Seeds
A good source of folate, which helps your body produce a pleasure-inducing brain chemical called dopamine.

Spinach
Studies show that magnesium, which you’ll find in leafy greens like spinach, improves your body’s response to stress.

Blueberries
Their antioxidants counteract the effects of stress hormones like cortisol on your body.

Let’s make healthy choices every day!  Hopefully, you won’t be stressed, but when you are try one of these yummy treats to combat it!  Until next time…

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 25th, 2010 at 8:25 am and is filed under Authors, Celia, Health & Beauty, Tips & Treats. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.