Most of the time, the rush of everyday life leads us to stress. Stress arises when our body reacts to a physical or mental challenge, and no one is immune to the harmful effects caused to the body.
And some foods have the power to alleviate this feeling, or even end it. These foods increase the level of serotonin, a substance that “calms” the brain and produces a feeling of well-being. Some of them even reduce levels of cortisol and adrenaline, stress hormones.
- Sweets: in an acute stress situation, it's worth opting for any sweet food. Sugars such as chocolate and honey open the way for tryptophan, it penetrates the brain and produces serotonin, but be careful not to eat too much and gain weight, diabetics must be careful with their blood sugar levels, so that they do not get too high.
As for the famous chocolate, turning to it when you are “down” and then feeling euphoric is something very common. The explanation is that the increase in blood glucose increases the feeling of well-being. The tip is to always stay in good spirits, and achieving this is not that difficult if glucose is kept relatively stable throughout the day. Compared to foods such as chocolate and sweets, which cause a rapid increase in glucose, there are those that achieve the same effect, but continuously.
- Onion: is an antioxidant and has a substance that acts as a natural calming agent.
- Fiber: we must take good care of our intestines, increasing our fiber intake, eat whole grains, fruits with the skin and vegetables.
- Fruits and Vegetables: to improve brain metabolism, we must consume vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, B complex and minerals (selenium, zinc, magnesium and lithium). Eat fruits, vegetables and greens.
Orange stands out, it is rich in vitamin C. It helps the nervous system to work properly. It is an energetic fruit that hydrates and prevents fatigue.
- Rice with Beans: nothing better than proteins of vegetable origin, so eat brown rice and beans, which gives us a feeling of pleasure and motivation.
- Protein of Animal Origin and Omega 3: these are also recommended, it can be cold water fish and seafood, omega 3 improves brain function and can be found in salmon, sardines, herring, trout and also in flaxseed.
- Chestnuts and Seeds: nuts (walnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds and pistachios) and seeds (pumpkin, sesame and linseed) also help combat stress. (List taken and adapted from the website: www.saudeconceito.com.br).
A healthy diet is essential to any stress reduction program. It is important to look at everyday events in a different way. Maintain a sense of humor during difficult situations, laughter not only helps to relieve tension and maintain perspective, but it also appears to have a physical effect that reduces stress hormone levels.