Do you know that your food can either enhance or decrease your stress level dramatically? Many foods leave adverse effects on a person’s wellbeing. In contrast, many foods can help in combating stress and promote a person’s wellbeing. If you are going through mild or severe conditions of stress, you should reconsider your food intake. Eating a greater variety of dairy-free and gluten-free foods can help in combating stress levels. Here are some of the most effective dairy-free and gluten-free foods that you must try:
- Green Leafy Vegetables
Research has found that consuming plenty of green leafy vegetables can help in reducing stress. For example, cabbage or spinach do wonders to alleviate daily or prolonged stress. In green leafy vegetables such as spinach, folate is present in a large amount. Folate helps in boosting the production of dopamine in the body which is a pleasure-causing chemical compound. When dopamine increases in the bloodstream, it suppresses the stress-causing hormones in the brain. As a result, a person starts feeling relaxed and calm instead of facing continuous stress or anger. By increasing the consumption of green leafy vegetables, a person can gain more control over their stress levels.
- Avocados
Many studies say that a person may face prolonged stress conditions due to vitamin B deficiency in the body. Avocados are rich in vitamin B and are highly effective for dealing with vitamin B deficiency. Not only do they provide a lot of healthy nutrients and vitamin B to our body but also taste great. To enjoy the benefits of avocados for relieving stress, make sure to add them to your daily diet. Use them in either your breakfast or make them a part of your lunch/dinner salads or snacks. They won’t only enhance the taste of your meals but also improve your overall health through stress relief.
- Fish
It’s surprising to know that eating fish at least three times per week can reduce stress. The reason is that fish contains a high amount of omega-3 that does wonders in combating stress hormones. Our bodies contain a stress-producing hormone called cortisol. When the amount of cortisol increases in the body, a person starts feeling depressed or stressed with or without any reason. Eating fish releases omega-3 in the body that decreases the amount of cortisol in the body. In this way, it helps a person feel relaxed and less stressed. More frequent use of fish helps in managing stress levels inside the brain.
- Citrus Fruits
A large number of citrus fruits are also good for reducing a person’s stress. For example, oranges, strawberries, and blueberries are a great way to control your day by day, increasing stress level. These citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and dopamine, a hormone that leaves a very good effect on the mind and body. Dopamine is a hormone that fights stress-causing hormones and kills them. Similarly, vitamin C and antioxidants help in soothing the tissues and muscles of the brain and body. As a result, a person feels good, calm, and happy for carrying on his everyday duties.
- Plain nuts
The plain nuts that are not roasted are also a great idea to combat your stress. Just like avocados, nuts are also higher in vitamin B, which is a great agent for fighting stress-causing hormones. The greater the amount of vitamin B in the body, the lesser the amount of stress-causing hormones in the body. As a result, a person won’t feel any pressure or stress on his mind and would be able to continue his everyday routine in a happy mood. However, it is important to eat only the recommended amount of nuts per day according to your age group. Exceeding the number of nuts per day may cause other health issues such as higher cholesterol levels or obesity.
- Pure Dark Chocolate
A pure candy size bar of dark chocolate that is gluten-free and dairy-free can also help treat stress. The research depicts that an average intake of approximately 1.4 ounces of pure dark chocolate each day helps in relieving stress. Dark chocolate contains certain compounds that fight stress-causing hormones. As a result, they don’t only reduce stress but also offer many other health benefits. For example, dark chocolate helps improve brain function, heart health, managing cholesterol levels, and treating stress or anxiety. However, it is important to ensure that you eat only the recommended amount of dark chocolate per day. Moreover, dark chocolate must be pure and original without too much added sugar and other unhealthy ingredients. Keep in mind that a bar of chocolate with more than 70% of cocoa is the real dark chocolate that you should eat.
It is important to remember that food plays a crucial role in treating or reducing stress. Without making the necessary changes to what you consume, it becomes hard to deal with everyday stress. Therefore, try to include the above-discussed foods into your daily diet to combat your stress. Along with the food, make sure to pay attention to healthy lifestyle changes and increased physical activity for good mental health.
