7 – Superfoods that Squash Stress
Dr. K.T. Murphy
Life has a way of getting the best of us some days. Whether it’s working too many hours, shuffling your kids all over town for their activities, taking care of your household, or dealing with personal or family matters, stress can take its toll on you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. But there are simple steps you can take to combat stress, starting with the foods you eat.
Avoiding caffeine and alcohol is a good start when life’s particularly stressful. Stimulants and depressants like these can both zap your energy and rob you of the fuel you need to successfully cope with tension. Sugary foods should also be avoided as well, as they cause your blood sugar levels to spike and then dip rapidly, which can in turn make your energy levels spike and dip at the same rate.
However, there are several superfoods out there that provide you with the energy and nutrition your body needs to keep stress in check
Asparagus, which is high in folic acid, can help level out your moods. Folic acid and vitamin B are key players in producing serotonin, a chemical that gets you into a good mood.
And though we may hear negative things regarding red meat, it’s actually a wise dinner option for a stressed-out family. Beef’s high levels of iron, zinc and B vitamins not only help get you into a good mood but help you stay there as well. Your local butcher can help you select lean cuts for the healthiest options
Please watch out for stressful eating. What does that mean loading up on the carbs, I know I love pasta with sausage and peppers with onions garlic, and brown mushroom gravy. I wrote a little booklet on it. under books
Milk really does a body good. Chock full of calcium, protein, antioxidants, and vitamins B2 and B12, helps strengthen bones and promotes healthy cell regeneration. Paired with a healthy whole-grain cereal choice in the morning, low-fat milk is a great way to start your day and arm yourself to battle the stressors that await you. Cottage cheese is also another great dairy choice, and when coupled with a fruit that’s high in vitamin C, it helps the body battle free radicals that run rampant during your most stressed periods.
Almonds are also an awesome choice when it comes to arming yourself against stress. They’re high in magnesium, zinc, as well as vitamins B2, C, and E, and unsaturated fats, all of which are great warriors against free radicals, which have been shown to cause cancers and heart disease.
Don’t forget to drink water and go for a walk. A walk alone to talk to yourself and make a plan for your success. As a man of faith, God gives us challenges. stress occurs when there is no plan, things will always change, but sometimes you have to hand problems to another power. so that they are off your plate. For there are rubber balls and glass ones. The glass ones have to be dealt with and the rubber balls will bounce for another day. People make list and plan like they are written in stone like they are in control, but it should be more like a flow chart so if this or that happens there is a plan with a goal list. More will get completed and the end of the day.
All the best
Chef Murph
