Written By: Jeanie Chang
Picture via aeromedi.com
When I'm stressed or have had a bad day, the first thing I want to do is eat chips (I love Cheetos) and drink diet soda. I know it's not good for me, but it makes me feel better...or does it really? I just read an article on Reader's Digest.com listing healthy food and drinks that calm you down. It's very interesting so I thought I'd share with you for you to try the next time you're stressed or had a stressful day. I sure will!
5 Drinks That Help You Calm Down:
1. Drink a glass of milk Milk contains tryptophan which as it is metabolized converts to mood-boosting serotonin! Plus, its calcium, magnesium and potassium content may help keep blood pressure down.
2. Drink hot cocoa. Warm drinks raise your body temperature which makes us feel comforted and this triggers a similar response in our brains.
3. Order black tea instead of coffee. A study by University College London shows that drinking black tea four times a day for six weeks lowered the stress hormone cortisol after a stressful event. (I'm definitely going to try drinking black tea instead of coffee!)
4. Drink green tea. Green tea is packed with theanine which increases the brain’s output of relaxation-inducing alpha waves and reduces the output of tension-making beta waves.
5. Drink a glass of cold water, then go for a walk outside. The water gets your blood moving and the air invigorates by stimulating the endorphins that de-stress you. (I definitely agree with this as it has worked for me!!!)
Try these heathier foods to de-stress:
1. Snack on a handful of nuts. They’re packed with magnesium, which seems to help keep cortisol levels low.
2. Eat broccoli and low-fat ranch dip. Broccoli has folic acid, which aids stress reduction. (Who knew?)
3. Enjoy sorbet with a vanilla sugar wafer. Sugary foods decrease levels of anxiety-producing hormones, specifically through the production of glucocorticoid, a stress hormone linked to storing more fat in the belly. Just a little sugar on the tongue is enough to produce a feel-good effect, so don’t overdo it! (It's great to know dessert is good for you too!)
4. Have a whole grain English muffin with jam or honey. Complex carbohydrate-rich foods raise serotonin levels, boosting your mood and helping you relax.
5. Savor some salmon. Omega-3 fatty acids help brain cells to function more collaboratively, helping you to deal with stress more effectively. (I love salmon! Now I know why.)
6. Indulge in some dark chocolate. By far the most potent endorphin-producing food on earth, chocolate contains more than 300 different compounds, including anandamide, a chemical that mimics marijuana’s effects on the brain, and theobromine, a mild stimulant. Look for imported dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 70% or more. (Trader Joe's has dark chocolate bars that have a cocoa content of 70% and they are DELICIOUS!)
Check out the following link for more information and other healthy living tips: www.rd.com
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