10 Foods That Naturally Relieve Stress

Posted by Bonnie Mo on October 21, 2015

Forget the chill pill. Eat your way to a state of zen with these all-natural, stress-alleviating superfoods.

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Seaweed

As if we needed more reason to snack on those addictive, paper-thin sheets of crunchy nori. Turns out, those dark, leafy greens including Swiss chard, spinach and seaweed are excellent sources of magnesium and folate, two important ingredients that help produce mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine — also known as the feel-good chemicals.
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Dark Chocolate

<a href="http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/presspacs/2009/acs-presspac-november-11-2009/new-evidence-that-dark-chocolate-helps-ease-emotional-stress.html" target="_blank">According to one study</a>, eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in people who reported feeling highly stressed.
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Kimchi

Fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi are full of gut-benefiting bacteria. Studies have shown that a healthy gut can have a direct effect on brain chemistry.
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Avocados

Avocados are full of health-boosting nutrients like potassium, Vitamin E and folate, but it’s the monounsaturated fats in avocados that help reduce blood sugar spikes that can lead to anxiety.
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Berries

Blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are all a great source of Vitamin C, which is a well-known natural stress-buster.
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Oysters

 These guys get all the glory for being aphrodisiacs, but slurping on oysters will also give you a shot of zinc, which can help calm frazzled nerves.
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Milk

One more reason mom was right. Drinking a glass of warm milk before you hit the sack isn’t just good for the soul for nostalgic reasons; milk is high in the protein lactium, which has a built-in calming effect by lowering blood pressure.
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Turkey

Like the classic episode of Seinfeld (and every family Thanksgiving dinner) taught us all, stuffing yourself with turkey is the quickest route to sleepy town. Chalk it up to tryptophan, an amino acid that triggers the brain to release serotonin, the chemicals that lead to feelings of sleepiness and calmness.
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Salmon & Anchovies

 Oily fish like salmon and anchovies are loaded with omega-3 fats and DHA, which play a role in emotional well-being.
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Almonds

Full of protein and Vitamin B2, a handful of these nuts can help keep stress levels in check by stabilizing blood sugar levels so you’re less likely to be vulnerable to mood swings brought on by sudden spikes and dips. Bonnie Mo is a Toronto-based editor and the face behind Food Network Canada's 1 Dish, 2 Ways column. She's also a contributing editor over at <a href="http://slice.ca/" target="_blank">slice.ca</a>. For more recipe ideas, visit <a href="http://bonniemo.ca/" target="_blank">bonniemo.ca</a>, or catch her on Instagram <a href="http://instagram.com/bonniemo" target="_blank">@bonniemo</a>.
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