Best Stress Relieving Foods You Should Eat When You’re Stressed

Stress is inevitable in modern times, but it’s natural to seek relief. Did you know that diet can be a wonderful stressbuster? If you regularly experience stress then we’ve got your back. Read on to know about these fantastic stress relieving foods that will boost your mood and uplift your energy levels.

Stress Relieving Foods Name List

When we feel overwhelmed & stressed out it is natural to find comfort in food. But unfortunately, many people go for unhealthy, high calories alternatives whenever they feel wrung out. Here is a list of healthy foods that reduce stress. Eating these foods will surely improve your mood and health in the long run!

1. Eggs

Eggs might come as a surprise to you, but, they are one of the perfect food for stress. They are a rich source of vitamin D, proteins, and crucial chemical acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that might improve your mood and the ability to manage stress.

• One large egg contains 147 mg of Acetylcholine.

Tip – Why not have poaches eggs & a salad as a stress buster?

2. Cashews

These crunchy nuts not only make a perfect snack but are also good for stress-busting. Cashews are an excellent source of zinc. Zinc is an essential mineral that can help with anxiety symptoms. Additionally, zinc also plays a crucial role in brain functioning. So, next time if you’re feeling overwhelmed & anxious, try some cashews to calm your nerves!

• 28.35 grams of raw cashews contains about 1.64 mg of zinc

Tip – Try adding cashews to your healthy smoothies for a flavorful snack!

3. Milk

This dairy product makes its grand entry on our wonderful list of stress relieving foods. Milk is a powerful source of vitamin D and other essential nutrients. Vitamin D has been linked with a reduced risk of panic and anxiety symptoms in people. Therefore, a glass full of milk is a perfect remedy for stressful times!

• 100g of milk has about 1 IU of Vitamin D.

Tip – Try adding milk to your smoothies or add some lovely flavoring to your milk for a relaxing time.

Also Read:- Best Time to Drink Milk

4. Garlic

Yes, this spice is a perfect way to curb your stress! Garlic is rich in antioxidants and a compound called glutathione. Did you know that glutathione is our body’s first line of defense against harmful stress? Therefore, regularly eating garlic can lessen your stress and anxiety in the long run.

Tip – Add garlic to your salad for a healthy meal

5. Dark chocolate

Yes, dark chocolate can be very good stress. Eating dark chocolate might lower your cortisol levels. The hormone cortisol is associated with elevated stress. So, whenever you’re feeling anxious, make sure to grab a bar of dark chocolate.

Tip – Sprinkle in some dark chocolate to your lovely smoothie for a heartful meal!

Also Read:- Dark Chocolate Benefits

6. Oranges

Oranges are amongst a great stress booster food that might relieve your anxiety. They are a rich source of vitamin C. This essential vitamin is associated with better mood and energy levels.

• 100g of oranges contain about 53.2 mg of Vitamin C

Tip – Add some oranges to your fruit salad for a stress-free meal!

7. Avocados

Avocados make a fantastic addition to the salads. Additionally, they are famous for being a delicious ingredient of the infamous guacamole. They are rich in antioxidant and omega 3 fatty acids. Antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids are essential for anti-inflammatory actions that may help relieve depression.

Also Read:- Avocado Benefits

100g of avocados contains about 111mg of Omega 3.

• Tip – Make some healthy avocados toast for a healthy breakfast!

8. Almonds

If you are struggling to have your stress under control then almonds might be the perfect choice for you. These crunchy nuts are bountiful in magnesium, which is essential for the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. The increased serotonin production in the brain can help uplift your mood and relieve unwanted stress.

• 100g of almonds has a great magnesium content of 270 mg.

Tip – Why not add some crunchy almond to your hearty poha?

Also Read:- Benefits of Almonds

9. Walnuts

Yes, another crunchy delicious nut makes its entry into our list of foods that reduce stress! Yes, these addictively delicious nuts are a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids. Additionally, this omega 3 rich fatty acid content in walnut can help reduce cortisol levels and thereby reduce your stress levels.

• A 28g serving of walnuts has an omega 3 fatty acids content of 2.5 g.

Tip – Add crunchy walnuts on top of your smoothie or fruit juice for a delightful drink!

10. Broccoli

Yes, apart from providing the essential nutrient to the body, broccoli might be crucial in combating stress. It is rich in vitamin B9 (Folate). This micronutrient is a natural antidepressant, which plays a major role in stress-busting! Therefore, whenever you’re feeling stressed make sure to have leafy greens handy!

• The folate amount of per 100g of Broccoli is about 108μg (27% DV)

Tip – You can try eating a broccoli salad for a healthy, hearty meal.

11. Sunflower Seeds

Yes, you read it right! These crunchy seeds of lovely, bright sunflowers are rich in essential nutrients like vitamin E and tryptophan. Tryptophan is essential for serotonin production that regulates mood and stress levels. Whereas Vitamin E protects the body from oxidative stress which can ultimately reduce the body’s overall stress.

• A 100-grams of sunflower seeds contains 35.17 mg of vitamin E.
• A 46g serving of Sunflower seeds has a tryptophan content of  0.16 g.

Tip – Try sprinkling some sunflower seeds on your shakes/ smoothies for a fantastic meal!

Also Read:- Sunflower Seeds Health Benefits

12. Green Tea

Yes, green tea is also amongst the delicious stress relieving foods on our list! Not only is it extremely refreshing but it’s great for stress reduction too! Theanine is a special type of amino acid found in green tea that plays a crucial role in stress reduction.

• A regular cup of green tea has a natural L-theanine content of about 25 mg.

Tip – Enjoy your green tea in the morning to give your day a rejuvenating start.

13. Low-Fat Plain Yogurt

Low-fat yogurt should be your go-to for stressful times. Why? because this delicious dairy product is enriched with healthy probiotics and key amino acids like lysine and arginine. These amino acids have been found to have stress-relieving properties. Meanwhile, active probiotics can boost your gut health, ultimately giving you much-needed relief from stress.

• A typical serving of Low-fat yogurt has an arginine content of 502mg; while lysine content is 1496mg.

Tip – Add some low-fat yogurt to your smoothies or eat it raw for a stress-busting meal!

14. Mangoes

Yes, these juicy tropical fruits might be a great stress buster! These lovely fruits are rich in vitamin B 9, which is crucial for stress management. So, during those stressful times make sure to have these lovely fruits in handy!

• A serving of 100g of mangoes has about 43μg (11% DV) of folate content.

Tip – Add some mangoes to your smoothie for a healthy meal.

15. Turmeric

Yes, this lovely herb is amongst the best stress relieving foods. Turmeric is rich in Curcumin. This compound might stimulate the release of dopamine or “the feel-good hormone” Therefore, it can be very effective in managing symptoms of stress and anxiety.

• An average lakadong turmeric has the highest amount of curcumin. About 7 – 8% percent of curcumin.

Tip – Add turmeric to your milk for a great snack!

16. Chickpeas

Chickpeas are delicious and very nutrient-dense. Additionally, they are rich in magnesium. Magnesium is essential in stimulating the calming down response in the brain. So, make sure to eat the lovely legumes whenever you’re feeling stressed.

• 100g of Chickpeas has a magnesium content of about 115 mg

Tip – Add some chickpeas to your salad for a fun meal!

17. Quinoa

Quinoa is a perfect food for stress! This healthy food is rich in fiber. Fiber content can help manage your gut and thereby reducing your stress. Therefore, make sure to keep a hearty bowl of quinoa near you during stressful times.

• 100g of Cooked quinoa contains about 2.8g of Fiber.

Tip – Have a bowl of quinoa salad for breakfast.

18. Brazil Nuts

These crunchy nuts are plentiful in nutrients and also in micronutrient selenium. This crucial micronutrient is essential for balancing the mood in the brain. Therefore it’s a great food for stress relief.

• Just 1 Brazil nut has about 96 mcg of selenium.

Tip – Add some Brazil nuts to your salads for a fantastic meal.

19. Salmon

Yes, this delicious fish might be good for your stressful days. Salmon is rich in omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are crucial in mood management.

• Atlantic salmon has about 4,123 mg of Omega 3 fatty acids.

Tip – Eat roasted salmon for a hearty meal.

20. Blueberries

Blueberries are popular fruits that are nutrient-dense. These wonderful berries are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential in reducing stress and anxiety in people.

• 100g of Blueberries has a Vitamin C content of 1.7mg.

Tip – Drink blueberry smoothie for the win!

Conclusion

Stress and anxiety are inevitable during modern times. Fortunately, a good diet can be a great stress buster. Some good foods that can help relieve stress are Broccoli, Cashews, Avocados, etc. Make sure to include them in your daily diet for a stress-free life!