If you are looking for a more natural way to combat stress and anxiety you don't have to look any farther than your own grocery store, to find the foods that you need to calm your mind naturally.
While meditation is a wonderful way to calm the mind, you can boost that power by eating foods that help do the same thing.
Overcoming anxiety without pharmaceutical drugs may seem complicated, but it's a lot simpler than you might think. By choosing the right foods, you can cut down on the amount of anxiety you experience on a day-to-day basis, and get a health boost along the way. Once you discover the power of real food, you will never want to go back to using harmful drugs that are loaded with side effects.
1. Cashews
If you haven't had cashews in a while, you might want to consider adding them to your grocery cart, the next time you go shopping. A handful of cashews provide the equivalent of one dose of Prozac believe it or not! It seems cashews are one of the highest natural sources of tryptophan, which is a precursor for the production of serotonin, the body's feel-good hormone, in the brain. Cashews are also a good source of phytochemicals, antioxidants and protein and are a rich source of iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium and phosphorous. Cashews can also help lower blood pressure, help prevent heart attacks and even starve tumors and stop cancer cells from dividing. Those who eat nuts a couple of times a week are also less likely to gain weight than those who only eat nuts on occasion.
2. Almonds
Almonds are another underrated food. Almonds are a rich source of zinc, which just so happens to be a key nutrient for maintaining a balanced mood. Almonds also contain iron and healthy fats, which are an integral part of a balanced diet. Almonds help lower cholesterol and they are high in fiber and calcium. Almond oil has been used historically in Ayurvedic, Ancient Chinese and Greco-Persian schools of medicine to treat dry skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema
3. Chocolate
Believe it or not, chocolate can help you calm down as well. The Native American culture utilized chocolate instead of acetaminophen to break a fever and the ancient Greeks used carrots instead of Zantac to sooth an upset stomach. The Aztecs believed avocados were natures Viagra and there is probably much more you could discover if you took a peek back into our history. Pure, dark chocolate without the added sugars or milk is also a great food to help combat anxiety and stress. Chocolate also helps reduce cortisol, the stress hormone that causes anxiety symptoms; it's a great choice for helping with anxiety.
So the next time you are feeling stressed, try some of these foods for a nice mood boost!