5 Anti-Stress Foods
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
Looking to fight off stress? The key is to eat small, regular meals based on carbohydrates, low-fat protein and plenty of fruit and vegetables. Find out which foods you should be eating more of to help reduce stress in your life.
Water and Herbal Tea
Cut down on or avoid coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and cocoa which can overly stimulate the body. Drink water, herbal teas and fresh fruit juices instead.
Breakfast Foods
In the morning, slice fresh fruit into whole grain cereals or porridge, and drink freshly squeezed fruit juice. Choose wholemeal toast with a high-fruit, low-sugar jam or yeast extract to satisfy your appetite while helping your body produce cortisol, the anti-stress hormone which helps wind you down.
Light and Easy Meals
Eat light, low-fat, high-protein meals, such as griddle or grilled chicken or fish with a baked potato and green salad or steamed vegetables. Sandwiches or a soft tortilla with tuna, chicken, hummus or guacamole filling, served with carrot, pepper and celery crudités are also great options. So are sardines on wholemeal toast.
Fish
Fish is great for stress. Try serving it with buckwheat noodles and sprinkled with some sesame seeds. Any pasta with a tomato sauce is good, too. Choose carbohydrate-rich foods such as pasta, potatoes or rice for your evening meal, as these help the body to produce cortisol.
Fruit
Fresh or dried fruit (apricots, dates and figs) are a good source of fibre, vitamins and minerals and can help stabilize your system. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds, nuts (particularly walnuts) are also great anti-stress foods. You can also try rice cakes with yeast extract, hummus or wholemeal.
