Opinion

Foods to Eat When you're Stressed

Foods to eat when you're stressed

Omega-3 rich foods can help reduce your anxiety. Too often we find ourselves reaching for comfort food to eliminate our stress or anxiety, but this quick fix usually leaves us feeling even more lethargic and stressed – with extra kilos to boot. Science Direct also reports that stress can influence human eating behaviour. We have therefore put together a few superfoods to help you combat your stress levels.

1.       Almonds: Rich in vitamins B2 and E, almonds help your body to relieve stress. This crunchy snack comes in handy and is good for the immune system when eaten in moderation.

2.      Cashew nuts: Salted or raw, this popular nut is a good source of zinc. Low levels of zinc are linked to anxiety and depression.

3.      Oatmeal: This is a fibre-packed breakfast option. Eating fibre in the morning has great advantages that leaves you feeling fuller for longer. The higher the fibre content the longer it takes to digest.

4.      Spinach: This green leafy vegetable is packed with magnesium. This mineral can increase your energy levels, reduce insomnia and calm your nerves in stressful situations.

5.      Sweet potato: This sweet and deliciously vegetable is packed with B vitamins, vitamin C, dietary fibre and potassium. The fibre and magnesium make for easy digestion. Bioactive compounds found in this vegetable play an important role in reducing oxidative stress and reducing cardiovascular disease risk, among other things.

6.      Walnuts: These contain an essential omega-3 fatty acid, which help with memory loss. The Indian Journal of Psychiatry reports that diets lacking omega-3 may lead to considerable disturbance in neural function.

Various studies suggest that nuts may have beneficial effects on depression and the development cognitive decline because of their high levels of antioxidants and vitamins.