Eating a Stress Free Diet

I encourage you to transfer to a stress free diet if you’re currently using so-called “comfort foods” as a way to help when you feel frustrated, angry or fearful from daily stressors.

When I see what most folks call comfort foods it’s no wonder they’re feeling higher levels of stress than they need to.

Foods/ingredients that cause stress:

• Caffeine
• Energy drinks
• Processed snack food
• High sodium foods
• Refined sugar
• Spicy foods
• Major brand candy/sweets
• Alcohol
• Anything w/ high fructose corn syrup, MSG, etc
  

Uh oh, are your comfort foods included in the above list? There’s no need to worry. Let me show you how many yummy foods a stress free diet can include.

A Stress Free Diet Should be Close to Nature

Nature provides us all we need to flourish physically and mentally.

There’s no need to drain your energy and mental awareness with chemical-laden foods when nature has provided us so many wonderful options.

Vegetables must be high on your list of choices.

Especially green, leafy vegetables. They’re high in minerals and vitamins, which provide you the nutrition you need to combat life events that cause stress. 

Eat lots of fruit. When you’re busy during the day and you have a bowl of cherries or strawberries near by, you have a great energy producing option as opposed to those chemical filled potato chips or chocolate bars.

Quality fruits to consider:

• avocados (rich in glutathione, vitamin E, beta-carotene & lutein)
• blueberries
• strawberries
• raspberries
• blackberries
• oranges (vitamin C)
• apricots (source of potassium, which stress depletes from your body)
• bananas (help give your body a quality, natural blood sugar boost)
• raisins (help lower blood pressure)

Eat organic nuts. Nuts like cashews (good source of zinc) are a great snack.

Walnuts have been found to help combat aging of the brain. Walnuts help against memory loss and stress because they contain an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid.

Herbs like chamomile can do wonders for your sense of mood. Try choosing chamomile tea in place of coffee or soda. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that chamomile tea helps promote sleep and calm those stressed nerves.

Garlic is another powerful stress reducing herb. It has a high concentration of antioxidants.

Antioxidants help to lower the effect of free radicals on your cells. Since stress has a negative effect on your immune system, the fact that garlic has allicin (linked to helping fight colds and even heart disease) is another positive against stress.

Green tea, although it contains caffeine, is effective as a stress reducer because it helps enhance your mood.

Other Great Foods to Include in Your Stress Free Diet

Oysters help boost your zinc levels. When you’re stressed, your body’s production of zinc plummets. Zinc had been found to be instrumental in regulating your body’s response to stress.

Oatmeal is a complex carbohydrate that helps the production of serotonin. Another antioxidant, serotonin helps soothe any feelings of stress.

Potatoes also help increase your serotonin levels and can be good for helping tension headaches.

Whole wheat bread is a great addition to any stress free diet. Carbohydrates are another quality choice for increasing the production of serotonin. Whole grains will slowly release sugar into your blood stream for greater energy and stamina. On the other hand, processed carbs will leave you feeling tired after an initial surge of energy.

Anything with iron is positive when you’re experiencing stress related fatigue. Foods that include iron are beef, eggs, whole grains, spinach, kale, broccoli, dried beans, thyme, basil, almonds, and parsley.

I mentioned beef above. Make sure you’re selecting grass fed, organic beef. It won’t have the chemicals associated with non-grass fed cattle. The right beef will also supply your body with zinc and B vitamins.

Foods with Vitamin B12 are vital for leveling out your neurological function. Foods such as beef, liver, and kelp are quality Vitamin B12 sources.

Magnesium is important. Foods with magnesium include leafy, green vegetables, nuts, whole grains, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds.

Foods high in protein will help combat any feelings of stress, insomnia, low mood, etc. Nuts, such as almonds, pecans and walnuts are good protein sources.

Small doses of dark chocolate can help with reducing stress. A great replacement for the major brand candies filled with stress inducing chemicals.

Switch to a Stress Free Diet & Watch the Transformation

Simply replacing your stress inducing foods with stress reducing foods can have immediate and positive effects on your stress levels.

It makes sense, really. Food is what fuels us. Chemicals and “fake” foods only serve to drag down the resources you need for mental clarity and physical energy.

Make the switch! You’ll be happy you did…

What you eat is only part of the overall plan of attack against stress. I invite you to read my book, Stress Less: Transforming Stress to Success.

In it, I give you my full ERASE formula for finally eliminating stress from your life.

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