Foods for stress and anxiety

Have you been feeling more stressed out than usual lately or it is becoming a default 'state' for you? It’s important to know which foods are best to choose and which to avoid when it comes to combating stress and helping you to deal with feelings of stress and anxiety.

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The best way to fight stress is to have a healthy, balanced diet, which includes a moderate amount of each of the different food groups; with particular emphasis on 'good' fats, 'rainbow' foods and good quality proteins.

Filling up on foods such as whole grains, leafy vegetables, and lean proteins as the basic staples of the diet is the best way to ensure that your body gets the optimum amounts of nutrients to fight both physical and mental health problems. When it comes to choosing the foods to eat, some have a range of great properties which help the body combat stress. Choosing these stress-busting foods will help to heal and calm your mind permanently, rather than providing a temporary fix.


Stress-fighting foods

Some of the best stress-fighting foods include:

Avocado

Avocados are a creamy and versatile fruit that can be eaten in a range of different ways whether you enjoy it raw, made into sauces, dressings and dips, or in a smoothie. These nutrient-dense fruits have the properties to stress-proof your body, thanks to their high glutathione content which specifically blocks the intestinal absorption of certain fats which cause oxidative damage.

Avocados also contain higher levels of vitamin E, folate, and beta-carotene than any other fruit, which boosts their stress-busting properties. However, be careful with portion control when eating avocado, as it is high in fat.

Blueberries

Blueberries have some of the highest levels of antioxidants, especially anthocyanins, which means that this berry has been linked to a wide range of health benefits including sharper cognition, better focus, and a clearer mind – all of which can help you to better deal with stress.

If you’re feeling stressed out and reaching for the snacks, swapping chocolate or chips for one of the best superfoods is a great way to help you deal with your stress levels, and achieve a higher level of calm.

Chamomile tea

Of course, it’s not all about what you’re eating when it comes to managing stress; what you’re drinking can also alleviate or worsen the stress you're feeling. Drinking liquids that are high in sugars and caffeine, such as coffee, energy drinks or fizzy soft drinks, can actually increase your stress levels if consumed regularly.

Chamomile tea has long been used as a natural bedtime soother, and it has also been used in clinical trials, which determined that chamomile tea is effective in reducing the symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder.

Dark chocolate

Although it’s usually seen as an unhealthy treat, there is an undeniable link between chocolate and our mood. Studies have shown that eating chocolate can actually make you happier. However, that doesn’t mean that you can start munching on chocolate bars every time you're stressed out – chocolate works best as a de-stressor when eaten in moderation and as part of a healthy and balanced diet.

Dark chocolate, in particular, is best for you, as it contains more flavonoids and polyphenols, two hugely important antioxidants which can help combat stress, more than many fruit juices.

Oats

Porridge is great in that it can be a filling, comfort food, but also has a large number of healthy properties to actually make you feel better from the inside out. A complex carbohydrate, eating porridge oats causes your brain to produce higher levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin, helping you to feel calmer and less stressed. Studies have shown that kids who choose oatmeal for breakfast tend to be much sharper throughout the morning in school compared to kids who had alternative morning meals.

Walnuts

If you’re looking for a healthy snacking option that will help you to stay better in control of your stress levels, walnuts are a great choice. There is no denying the sweet, pleasant flavour of walnuts and they can be a tasty snack for in-between meals or as part of a dessert. A versatile nut, walnuts are great for salads or add them to a sweet treat such as coffee and walnut cake.

Pistachios

Another food that is great for snacking on and can also help to combat stress and anxiety in the long term is the pistachio nut. Studies have found that simply eating two small, snack-size portions of pistachios per day can lower vascular constriction when you're stressed, putting less pressure on your heart by further dilating your arteries. Along with this, the rhythmic, repetitive act of shelling pistachios can actually be quite therapeutic!

Green leafy vegetables

Leafy, green vegetables should be a pivotal part of anyone’s diet. Along with helping to combat stress, leafy greens are full of nutrients and antioxidants which help to fight off disease and leave your body feeling healthier and more energised.

Dark leafy greens, for example, spinach, are especially good for you since they are rich in folate, which helps your body to produce more mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which is a ‘feel-good’ chemical. Making leafy greens a part of your diet will help you to feel happier and less stressed out overall.

Examples of leafy greens are:

  • broccoli
  • kale
  • cabbage
  • swiss chard
  • pak choi
  • spinach

Fermented foods

Last but not least, eating fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir and sauerkraut can help to keep your gut healthy, which actually, in turn, will help to improve your mental health and reduce stress levels. The beneficial bacteria which are found in fermented foods such as yoghurt actually have a direct effect on your brain chemistry and transmit positive mood and behaviour regulating signals to your brain via the vagus nerve.


Putting together your meal plan

Planning your meals wisely is key to not only staying physically fit and healthy but also to staying mentally strong and being able to best manage your levels of stress. Knowing which foods to avoid and which are the best to reach for to snack on when you’re feeling worried and anxious is important to helping you get control over your emotions and fears.

When you’re feeling stressed, you may be tempted to reach for classic ‘comfort foods’ – usually foods that are laden with sugar, very starchy, or greasy. However, although these foods can make you feel momentarily better, they will actually make you feel worse in the long run.

Having stress-busting snacks such as fresh berries, dark chocolate, yoghurt, walnuts or pistachios, or even a fruit smoothie with avocado and leafy greens in it can help you to feel better in both the short and long-term. When it comes to combating and dealing with stress in the long run, it’s important to make sure that for the most part, you are eating a diet that is healthy and balanced.

In order to stay on track, it’s a good idea to make a meal plan for your week and plan ahead to make sure that you have a good selection of these stress-busting foods in your kitchen to make meals and snacks from when you’re feeling like stress-eating. Making sure that the majority of your meals include foods such as lean proteins and leafy green vegetables will not only make you feel healthier overall but can improve your mental health and stress levels, too.

If you don't feel confident creating your own meal plans, or need help with motivation then you could consider working with a nutritionist who can support your transition to a new eating plan. 


Example stress-busting menu

A good example of a healthy, stress-busting menu would be:

Breakfast: porridge with almond nut butter and fresh or frozen berries or a fruit smoothie with avocado, banana and berries.

Mid-morning snack: natural yoghurt with fresh fruit or a handful of pistachio nuts.

Lunch: mini gem lettuce 'boats' filled with mashed tinned salmon, avocado and capers.

Afternoon snack: green tea with two dates.

Dinner: organic chicken with ginger, garlic and stir-fry green leafy vegetables.

Before bed: chamomile tea.

Of course, you don’t need to stick to this menu – but it gives you a good idea! Remember to exercise good portion control when eating foods such as nuts, dark chocolate, yoghurt or avocado. As the saying goes, you are what you eat – so make sure that first and foremost, you’re filling yourself up with foods that are good for your mental health.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author. All articles published on Nutritionist Resource are reviewed by our editorial team.

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