Sweet Potatoes: Next time you’re overcome with the urge to eat away your anxiety, keep this in mind: Sweet potatoes work as a powerful stress-busting food because of their sweet flavor and high concentration of carbohydrates—two common stress-related cravings. To boot, sweet potatoes are high in fiber, which helps you digest food in a slow and steady manner, keeping you physically—and emotionally—satisfied longer.
Chamomile: Some nights, it's our minds we can't turn off; other nights, it’s our bodies. When it's the latter, chamomile can help. According to research from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the herb, native to Europe and Asia and most commonly consumed as tea, has been shown in animal studies to suppress muscle spasms, effectively calming the body.
Dark Chocolate: Eating just 1.4 oz of dark chocolate can lower the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamines in the body, which helps reduce anxiety. Plus, the pure joy of eating your favorite treat triggers the release of endorphins in your brain, which offers an immediate happiness boost, according to Gans. That’s two hormone helpers in one sweet treat!
St. John’s Wort: A perennial herb that grows wild around the world, the unofficial breakup remedy, as it’s prized for treating mild and temporary depression, according to Mark Blumenthal, founder of the American Botanical Council. It’s most often consumed either as tea or as an herbal supplement, and studies have found it significantly improves mood and increases interest in activities in mildly depressed patients.
Milk: You've heard that people get sleepy after a big turkey dinner because of tryptophan, a drowse-inducing amino acid that can be found in milk as well. But the jury is still out on the veracity of this theory. “Warm milk may help you sleep, but it’s not because it contains tryptophan,” says Gans. In fact, research suggests that tryptophan only affects one phase of sleeping—the falling-asleep part—but doesn’t encourage, and may even discourage, deep REM sleep. But don’t pour your carton down the drain just yet. If it works for you, use it.
Passionflower: A creeping vine native to the southern United States. The British Herbal Compendium recognizes its use to treat nervous stress and anxiety, and you can find it in teas that promise to calm you, as well as in the form of an herbal supplement.
Peanut Butter: Feeling irritable or unfocused from lack of sleep? According to Gans, both are signs your body needs fuel, and eating peanut butter might help. “Peanuts are high in vitamin B6, which helps regulate blood sugar and stabilize mood,” says Gans. Choose natural peanut butter to avoid excess sugar, which could negate the positive effects of the B6, and spread it on a hard-to-break-down carbohydrate, like whole-wheat toast, to stay satisfied longer.
Valerian Root: With the help of valerian, cultivated in Europe, Japan and the United States, people have been resting easier for ages. Going at least as far back as ancient Greece—valerian's first use was documented by Hippocrates—the herb has been empirically recognized as having a sedative-like effect on humans, although the ingredients responsible for this effect remain unknown. Often used in a medicinal tea infusion and tincture, it can be found in approximately 60 different forms, including tablets, juices, tea and drops. Just be sure to talk to a doctor before using, in case of possible negative reactions with food or medications.
Whole Grains: Need a happiness boost? Try snacking on a healthy portion of complex carbohydrates, thought to trigger the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter known as the “feel-good hormone,” which can help you feel calm, relaxed and happy all at once, says Gans. The ideal carbs include whole grains and cereals (whole-grain breads, oats, quinoa and brown rice) as well as legumes (peas, beans and lentils).
(Source: Yahoo)
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