Stress & Foods

For those that know me, also know that I can be a bit high strung!  Yes, I confess that it is true. 

Part of my summer goals has been to become healthier.  Here is an article from Dr. Oz's RealAge website on healthy, stress-reducing foods:

Berries, any Berries - Eat them one by one instead of M&M's (which is my drug-food of choice). The carbs in the berries transfer into sugar at a slower pace than processed sugary items, which prevent a blood-sugar crash. This also gives you a great source of vitamin C, which helps to prevent the spike in stress hormones (cortisol).

Guacamole - Avocados are filled with B vitamins, which stress quickly depletes and which your body needs in order to maintain nerves and brain cells. Scoop up Guacamole onto whole-grain baked chips for a healthier choice.

Mixed nuts - Just an ounce will do. Walnuts help replace those stress-depleted B vitamins, Brazil nuts give you a whooping amount of zinc (which is also drained by high anxiety), and almonds boost your E, which helps fight cellular damage linked to chronic stress. 

Oranges - People who take 1,000 milligrams of C before giving a speech have lower levels of stress hormones and lower blood pressure than those who don't. So peel an orange and enjoy while reducing stress.

Asparagus - Each tender stalk is a source of folic acid, a natural mood lightener. Dip the spears in fat-free yogurt or sour cream for a hit of calcium with each bite.

Chai tea - a warm drink is a supersoother, and curling up with a cup of aromatic decaf chia tea (Tazo makes ready-to-brew bags) can make the whole hectic day simmer down.

Dark chocolate - If you must reach for chocolate - the dark chocolate's antioxidant flavonoids are the better choice.