Tuesday, 3 January 2012
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Perhaps you find it funny to see women portrayed as needing a tub of ice cream or an entire plate of chocolate cake to cope with a stressful situation, especially things involving the emotions, such as a breakup. These foods are typically known as “comfort food,” and men who have never eaten out of stress find it hard to understand the logic. In fact, they are quick to write it off as a simple food craving masked behind an impression of “need” for coping.
But do you know that food can indeed play a role in how your body responds to stress? There is such a thing as foods that relieve stress. Typically, these foods contain vitamins and minerals or components that help stimulate the production of serotonin. This hormone works to regulate a person’s mood and consequently helps relieve stress. For example, magnesium and B vitamins play a critical role in producing serotonin, while zinc can help fight off some of the ill effects of stress. Vitamin E works as an antioxidant to help get rid of the free radicals that are produced during stress.
The following foods are good choices to munch on when you are under a lot of stress:
1. Almonds are nuts that are high in B vitamins, magnesium, and vitamin E. This means you not only get a boost of serotonin to regulate your mood, you will also have a way to fight off the ill effects caused by your stress. Of course, almonds are also high in fat, so generally, you will have to keep your intake to a few handfuls at a time, as eating too many of them every time you are stressed might translate to some extra pounds that will in turn contribute to your stress levels!
2. Fish is a good food to eat during stressful times, as they are packed with B vitamins, especially B6 and B12, which are well-known for fighting stress. Instead of wolfing down a plate of pizza, you can opt for a tuna salad or tuna sandwich, or perhaps grilled mackerel or salmon. Although it might not sound like a tasty treat to soothe your broken heart, your overall disposition will lead you thanking this fishy meal in the long run.
3. Broccoli is another food that will surely benefit you. Not only is it known for helping fight cancer, the folic acid it contains also helps ward off stress. In fact, folic acid is known not only to relieve stress but also to fight off panic, anxiety, as well as depression.
4. Eating whole grain pasta or rice is also a great way to combat stress. Carbohydrates actually help boost levels of serotonin, which explains why many women who pig out on ice cream during a season of heartbreak find it strangely soothing and calming. Of course, whole grain carbohydrates will be the best choice, as simple carbs, especially sugars, only give you a temporary boost—which, unfortunately, is followed by a dip. Also, simple carbs will also result in more weight gain, giving you more things to stress about after a while.
5. Believe it or not, sushi is also a great stress reliever for more reasons that one: sushi comes with fish, which already have high levels of B vitamins. In addition to that, the seaweed used in these rolls is rich in magnesium and also comes laden with pantothenic acid, which contributes greatly to the health of one’s adrenal glands. These glands are crucial when it comes to managing stress.
6. Milk is another food that helps improve one’s disposition, thanks to its high levels of B vitamins. Cottage cheese is another dairy product that contains high levels of B vitamins.
7. Cantaloupe is also a good choice, thanks to its high levels of vitamin C. This vitamin also plays a vital role in fighting stress, as the presence of this vitamin in the adrenal glands tends to be depleted during prolonged stressful periods.
8. Beef contains high levels of B vitamins, zinc, and iron, giving you reason to enjoy that huge steak. Still, you will need to pay attention to the saturated fat it contains, too, which means you can only enjoy beef to a certain extent, preferably with the leanest cuts available.
From these choices, you can likely find a new game plan to use during your next stress breakdown, and you will definitely enjoy a quicker pickup compared to your usual list of comfort food!
Foods that Help Relieve Stress
But do you know that food can indeed play a role in how your body responds to stress? There is such a thing as foods that relieve stress. Typically, these foods contain vitamins and minerals or components that help stimulate the production of serotonin. This hormone works to regulate a person’s mood and consequently helps relieve stress. For example, magnesium and B vitamins play a critical role in producing serotonin, while zinc can help fight off some of the ill effects of stress. Vitamin E works as an antioxidant to help get rid of the free radicals that are produced during stress.
The following foods are good choices to munch on when you are under a lot of stress:
1. Almonds are nuts that are high in B vitamins, magnesium, and vitamin E. This means you not only get a boost of serotonin to regulate your mood, you will also have a way to fight off the ill effects caused by your stress. Of course, almonds are also high in fat, so generally, you will have to keep your intake to a few handfuls at a time, as eating too many of them every time you are stressed might translate to some extra pounds that will in turn contribute to your stress levels!
2. Fish is a good food to eat during stressful times, as they are packed with B vitamins, especially B6 and B12, which are well-known for fighting stress. Instead of wolfing down a plate of pizza, you can opt for a tuna salad or tuna sandwich, or perhaps grilled mackerel or salmon. Although it might not sound like a tasty treat to soothe your broken heart, your overall disposition will lead you thanking this fishy meal in the long run.
3. Broccoli is another food that will surely benefit you. Not only is it known for helping fight cancer, the folic acid it contains also helps ward off stress. In fact, folic acid is known not only to relieve stress but also to fight off panic, anxiety, as well as depression.
4. Eating whole grain pasta or rice is also a great way to combat stress. Carbohydrates actually help boost levels of serotonin, which explains why many women who pig out on ice cream during a season of heartbreak find it strangely soothing and calming. Of course, whole grain carbohydrates will be the best choice, as simple carbs, especially sugars, only give you a temporary boost—which, unfortunately, is followed by a dip. Also, simple carbs will also result in more weight gain, giving you more things to stress about after a while.
5. Believe it or not, sushi is also a great stress reliever for more reasons that one: sushi comes with fish, which already have high levels of B vitamins. In addition to that, the seaweed used in these rolls is rich in magnesium and also comes laden with pantothenic acid, which contributes greatly to the health of one’s adrenal glands. These glands are crucial when it comes to managing stress.
6. Milk is another food that helps improve one’s disposition, thanks to its high levels of B vitamins. Cottage cheese is another dairy product that contains high levels of B vitamins.
7. Cantaloupe is also a good choice, thanks to its high levels of vitamin C. This vitamin also plays a vital role in fighting stress, as the presence of this vitamin in the adrenal glands tends to be depleted during prolonged stressful periods.
8. Beef contains high levels of B vitamins, zinc, and iron, giving you reason to enjoy that huge steak. Still, you will need to pay attention to the saturated fat it contains, too, which means you can only enjoy beef to a certain extent, preferably with the leanest cuts available.
From these choices, you can likely find a new game plan to use during your next stress breakdown, and you will definitely enjoy a quicker pickup compared to your usual list of comfort food!
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