15 Best Foods to Reduce Stress and Enhance Mental Health

 1.    Drinking a warm cup of Herbal tea helps to make yourself feel calmer and reduce stress.

2.    Dark chocolate with two or three ingredients only such as cacao beans, cane sugar, and cocoa butter, rich in antioxidants, help reduce stress by lowering levels of stress hormones in the body.

3.    Fish fight stress and help to prevent heart disease. Fatty fish is a great option, their omega-3s may help ease depression, you can also try omega-3 supplements in the form of fish oil. The Harvard Health Blog noted they are tied to a lower risk for heart disease and stroke.

4.    Warm milk before bed is an old home remedy for getting a better night’s sleep. It can have a relaxing effect on the body, calcium-rich foods are an essential part of a healthy diet for bone health, but this nutrient may also help reduce depression.

5.    Eggs contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants needed for a healthy stress response. Eggs are rich in choline, a nutrient found in large amounts in only a few foods. Choline has been shown to play an important role in brain health and stress management.

6.    Studies have shown that eating flavonoid-rich foods like blueberries may safeguard against depression and boost your mood.

7.    Bananas are high in potassium which can help lower your blood pressure. The B-Vitamins, like folate and Vitamin B6, key production of serotonin, which help improve your mood and reduce anxiety.

8.    Oranges help to reduce stress, it contains Vitamin C, which lowers cortisol (stress hormone) and lower blood pressure.

9.    Avocados offer stress-busting omega-3 fatty acids, these healthy essential acids function to reduce stress and anxiety, boost concentration, and improve mood. It consists of phytochemicals, fiber, and essential nutrients linked to healthy nutrients that lower the risk of metabolic syndrome, including high blood pressure and obesity.

10.      Garlic eases tension and stress and reduces glucose levels in the body. Garlic is rich in antioxidants and helps restore antioxidants which in turn soothe our stress levels.

11.      A magnesium deficiency can cause migraine headaches and a feeling of fatigue. One cup of Spinach provides 40 percent of your daily needs for magnesium.

12.      Leafy Green Vegetable that's packed with stress-fighting nutrients. Such as folate, which produces good brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine.

13.      Sunflower seeds are a rich source of Vitamin E, this acts as a powerful antioxidant and essential for mental health. Sunflower seeds are also high in other stress-reducing nutrients.

14.      Sweet potatoes can be particularly stress-reducing because they can satisfy the urge you get for carbohydrates and sweets. They are packed full of beta-carotene and other vitamins, and the fiber helps your body to process the carbohydrates slowly and steadily.

15.      Almonds also work as stress relievers. It contains vitamin B2, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc, B vitamins and magnesium are involved in the production of serotonin, which helps regulate mood and relieve stress. Zinc fights some of the negative effects of stress, while vitamin E is an antioxidant that destroys the free radicals related to stress and heart disease.

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