Stress is a constant but inevitable problem that we must all deal with because such is the nature of the modern and super busy lifestyles that we all lead nowadays. Crushing work and family responsibilities, personal expectations, social pressure, health issues and so many other serious stressors are a part of our everyday lives now, that unless we bust some of that accumulating stress on a fairly regular basis, it will weigh us down and bring on a long range of mental, physical and social problems with it.

The good news is that there are actually regular food items that contribute immensely in helping us combat stress accumulation from the inside. Read on as we discuss five of the most powerful foods which have the potential to not just release tension and anxiety, but might actually make you healthier in the process.

5 Foods to Help you Combat Stress

Potassium-Rich Fruits

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Fruits, in general, are rich in antioxidants and vitamins so any healthy diet will have a bunch of them in it every day. However, it has been found that fruits such as bananas, avocados and cucumbers, in particular, are very useful in keeping stress low in individuals who are prone to stress-induced anxiety, due to a high potassium content that lowers blood pressure automatically.

Certain Vegetables

Just like fruits, some veggies such as carrots, swiss chard and spinach can contribute heavily towards lowering stress. Cortisol is known as the primary stress hormone in humans, and magnesium-rich leafy green veggies such as Swiss chard and spinach act directly towards lowering the stress hormone. Carrots and sweet potatoes, on the other hand, boost the production of serotonin, which is a hormone associated with multiple essential functions, including that of keeping depression and anxiety at bay.

Special Herbs

There are a few selected species of herbs known as adaptogens, which are by far, the biggest natural stressbusters on this list. Herbs such as ashwagandha, golden root, various species of ginseng, holy basil and chaga affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to not just release tension, but actually, prepare your body from the inside to better react to common stressors in the future as well.

Check out this very thorough list on Vitamonk that doesn’t just list the adaptogens, but explains the role each of these herbs plays individually and synergistically within the human body to bring about focus, energy and relaxation even in the tensest of situations to help you combat stress in your day to day life.

Berries in General

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Now, berries are essentially fruits too, but they deserve a special section dedicated to them because almost all kinds of edible and non-poisonous berries such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, goji berries, bilberries, acai berries, cranberries and even grapes can contribute to busting stress, because they are all rich in antioxidants, vitamins and other minerals that directly or indirectly help to combat stress.

Milk

The last one on this list is a bit controversial because of the fact that a large number of people around the world are lactose intolerant, especially the older population in any country. Then on top of that, there are certain harmful effects that have been linked to drinking milk as well.

However, if you are not lactose intolerant and drinking properly processed milk has never caused you any problems, then you should try drinking a cup of warm milk just before going to sleep. Milk is a natural cure to insomnia as it can effectively lower tension by physically relaxing the muscles. Not to mention that it is actually a real superfood for those that can process the plethora of vitamins, minerals, proteins and other nutrients in it without any issues. Have you found drinking milk is a good way to combat stress in your life?

Although stress-busting should be a combination of exercise, a good diet, proper sleep and various other steps in between, the foods we just discussed will make each and every one of those efforts multiple times more effective than they would otherwise be on their own.

Do you have any other food suggestions to help combat stress?

*Disclaimer: A Collaborative Post*