Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
placeholder article
placeholder article

10 Foods to Combat Stress

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bowdoin chapter.

We all know midterms and the onset of the Maine winds, rains, hail storms, etc can be pretty stressful. Here are 10 super foods that taste good, make you feel good and keep stress under control. Enjoy and RELAX!

1. Blueberries

Blueberries, which offer a high-fiber, low-calorie fruit option, are rich in vitamin-C, which helps beat down stress.

2. Milk

Milk is high in antioxidants and vitamins B2 and B12, as well as protein and calcium. Have a bowl of whole-grain cereal and low-fat milk in the morning to start your day with a stress-fighting breakfast.

3.Carrots

Want to go to Super Snacks but are not in the mood for nachos? Snacking on crunchy foods, such as carrots and celery, help relieve stress. Nutrient-rich carrots, celery and other crunchy, fresh veggies offer satisfying crispness and don’t contain too many calories.

4. Fatty Fish

The heart-healthy omega-3 fats in fish such as salmon, sardines and tuna manage adrenaline levels to help keep you calm, cool and collected. Feel as calm and poised as Giada when you make her Lemon-Caper Salmon.

5. Tea

Calm jittered nerves with a soothing cup of your favorite tea. Stick to the variety of herbal and decaffeinated teas at Moulton, Thorne and the Union.

6. Tuna

High in stress-fighting vitamins such as B6 and B12, tuna is a great stress-fighting option. Tuna is also a good low-fat protein source.

7. Almonds

Are you ever looking for something you can really dig your teeth into when you’re stressed? A good source of Vitamin B2 and E, along with magnesium and zinc, almonds are high in fat, but the majority of the fat is unsaturated. Like vitamin C, vitamin E has been shown to combat the free radicals associated with stress, and in particular, those free radicals that can cause heart disease.

8 & 9. Avocado and Banana

Both avocados and bananas are loaded with potassium, a crucial mineral for keeping blood pressure low and you relaxed.

10. Oranges

A German study in Psychopharmacology found that vitamin C helps diminish stress and return blood pressure and cortisol to usual levels after a stressful situation. Vitamin C is also known to boost your immune system, keeping you healthy and calm.

SOURCES:
http://www.marieclaire.com/health-fitness/advice/reduce-stress-foods
http://www.bhg.com/health-family/mind-body-spirit/natural-remedies/super…
http://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy_eating/top-10-foods-for-stress-relief…