How would you like to reduce your stress levels naturally?
Pharmaceutical companies would like us to think that the only way to treat illnesses, disorders, and other health issues is through their products.
The truth is that in many cases, there are natural treatments for what ails us. In some cases, we can find relief just by adding some key ingredients to our diet. Here are six food and drink items that will reduce your stress levels:
Tea
Chamomile calms the mind and green tea goes a long way towards reducing stress. A University of Pennsylvania study shows that chamomile leads to decreased anxiety symptoms.
And according to researchers at the University of Illinois, theanine, an amino acid present in green tea, helps improve the way our brains work.
Most studies suggest drinking two cups per day to reap tea’s full rewards.
Chocolate
By now most people know that chocolate produces the same reactions in our brains that love does, but did you know that eating a chocolate bar can produce the same sensations as listening to your favorite song?
Dark chocolate in particular has been proven to regulate the stress hormone cortisol. You don’t need to alarm your dentist either—just an ounce and a half will do the trick.
Honey
Honey is more than just a term of endearment. A spoonful of real unadulterated honey per day has been shown to reduce inflammation in the brain which some studies show to increase depression and anxiety when chronic.
Mango
Linalool, a compound found in mangos, has been shown to help lower stress levels. Aside from being delicious, mangos can actually improve your mood.
Berries
Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and all their cousins, have two things in common: they’re yummy and contain huge quantities of vitamin C.
Aside from helping us fight the common cold, vitamin C also helps fight stress, according to a study done in Germany. Researchers found lower blood pressure and lower levels of cortisol in the group of participants that ingested the vitamin versus the group that didn’t.
Nuts
A lack of, or low levels of zinc, has been linked to anxiety and depression. Fortunately, cashews, which coincidentally are related to mangoes, contain high levels of zinc. In fact, a one ounce serving of cashews can provide over ten percent of the recommended daily amount. Our bodies cannot store zinc, so eat a handful of cashews every day.