Stressed?
Who Isn’t! Beat it with These Foods

Normally stress-eating is considered a bad thing. But if you put the right foods into your body then eating when your nerves are frazzled can actually calm you down. The last thing you need is more stress with the holidays coming up. Over time, stress can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity. Wouldn’t you rather know how to fight those things off now before it’s too late? Me too! So here you are: Yummy foods that are easy-to-find, soothe stress, and provide damage-control to your already stressed-out body.

Almonds, Pistachios & Walnuts

When *!@# hits the fan, reach for a handful of almonds. They’re bursting with vitamin E, an antioxidant that bolsters the immune system. Almonds also contain B vitamins, which may help your body hold up during seriously unpleasant events. About a quarter cup every day is all you need.

Tired of almonds? Have pistachios or walnuts! Both will help keep your blood pressure down when things heat up. When stress strikes, the hormone adrenaline raises blood pressure to boost energy, so you’re prepared to run like mad if you need to (thank that biological fight-or-flight response stuff). However, eating about a handful of pistachios a day lowers blood pressure so your heart doesn’t have to work overtime. Walnuts accomplish the same thing. Add about a handful to salads, cereal, or oatmeal.

Avocados

Next time you’re craving a dangerously high-fat treat because you’re stressed out, try some homemade guacamole – the thick, rich texture can satisfy your craving and reduce frantic feelings. The green thing is also packed full of the good, monounsaturated fat and potassium to lower blood pressure. Just half an avocado offers 487 milligrams of potassium, more than you’ll get from an average sized banana. Make your own avocado salad dressing: puree a medium avocado with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and a dash of cayenne. Yum!

Skim Milk

There’s actually something scientifically sound to that old warm-milk remedy for insomnia and restlessness! Calcium can reduce muscle spasms and soothe tension. Go for skim milk, which won’t break the nutritional bank and will reduce mood swings, anxiety, and irritability.

Oatmeal

Forget South Beach, it’s all about the right carbs! Carbohydrates make the brain produce more serotonin, the same relaxing brain chemical released when you eat dark chocolate. The more slowly your body absorbs carbs, the more steadily serotonin flows. Since thick, hearty oatmeal is high in fiber, few things take longer for your stomach to digest. Try topping it with a swirl of honey or raisins when you need that quicker release of serotonin for the early-morning meeting days. When you know it’s going to be a particularly stressful day, skip heavily processed varieties of oatmeal (the sugary ones), which are digested quicker (not actually a good thing in this case). If two minutes is all you have, go for Quaker Simple Harvest oatmeal packets for a delicious start to your day (it doesn’t taste like paste, promise!).

Meet the Trainer

Crystal is a certified personal trainer through the National Sports and Conditioning Association (NSCA). She has a passion for helping others live a healthy lifestyle and coaching them to push their limits beyond what they think they are capable of.