Warm, Soothing Foods
HELPS RELIEVE STRESS
Sipping a warm cup of tea, especially one with chamomile, may lower anxiety by helping retool the body’s stress system and increasing the feel-good hormones dopamine
and serotonin.
Dark Chocolate
HELPS RELIEVE STRESS
Sweets aren’t usually a good choice when you’re frazzled,
but a chocolate bar made with at least 60 percent cacao
is an exception because it may help lower cortisol, the
stress hormone.
Whole-Grain Carbohydrates
HELPS RELIEVE STRESS
While refined carbs are tied to stress and depression, complex ones — including whole-wheat bread, pasta,
and rice — can help brighten your mood by revving production of the stress-busting hormone serotonin.
Bananas
HELPS RELIEVE STRESS
Potassium in the yellow fruit drives up the feel-good hormone dopamine and helps replenish your stores of magnesium, which plummet during stressful times.
Fatty Fish
HELPS RELIEVE STRESS
Omega 3–rich swimmers, including salmon, have
been shown to help ease depression, anxiety, and
overall stress.
Water
HELPS RELIEVE STRESS
Even mild dehydration sends cortisol levels soaring,
making you feel more stressed. But drinking 2.7 to 3.7
liters per day can keep you hydrated, preparing your body
to better handle hardship.
Milk
HELPS RELIEVE STRESS
The calcium in milk may help fend off depression, while
its vitamin D can relax your muscles and stabilize your
mood. Together, the nutrients may also help ease
stressful PMS symptoms.
Nuts
HELPS RELIEVE STRESS
The healthy fat in nuts like pistachios can help
ward off unhealthy cravings that may contribute to
feeling strung out, while their B vitamins have been shown
to directly reduce stress.
Oranges and Other Vitamin C-Rich Fruits
HELPS RELIEVE STRESS
This vitamin, which you can find in oranges, grapefruit, and strawberries, can help combat cortisol, reducing stress.
Avocados
HELPS RELIEVE STRESS
Vitamins C and B6 are known stress busters, and the healthy fat and fiber in this creamy fruit can also help you feel full, keeping cravings for unhealthy stress sabotagers at bay.
Leafy Greens
HELPS RELIEVE STRESS
Magnesium found in veggies such as spinach and
kale helps regulate production of the stress hormone
cortisol, while their folate triggers the feel-good
hormone dopamine.
Caffeine
Downing beverages with this stimulant, such as coffee, can make you feel anxious, jittery, and more stressed if you’re drinking too much or too late.
Alcohol
FOOD TO AVOID WHEN STRESSED
If you drink too much or rely on booze to help
calm your nerves, you could be increasing your stress
levels, along with your risk for depression.
Refined Sugar
FOOD TO AVOID WHEN STRESSED
This type of sugar can cause blood sugar to spike and then
crash, zapping your energy levels and increasing stress. Cookies, cakes, and candy contain refined sugar.
FOOD TO AVOID WHEN STRESSED
