5 'feel good' foods for you!

Eisha Sarkar

Posted on Hello Wellness on Nov 23, 2010

Wait! Don't reach out for that bag of chips just yet. You may be stressed but there are healthier options for you to help your mood. Try these:

Dark chocolate

Packed with antioxidants, dark chocolate lowers levels of catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline), corticosterone, and the stress hormone cortisol. Eating just 40 grams of dark chocolate everyday can reduce risk of heart disease, relieve pain, lower blood pressure, and protect from skin cancer. Keep chocolate handy but don't have too much of it. Chocolate contains caffeine, which in high doses causes headaches, jittery nerves and irritates the stomach.

Almonds

Looking for something to dig your teeth into when you are stressed? Crunch some almonds with those molars to get some aggression out. A good source of Vitamin B2 and E, as well as magnesium and zinc, almonds are high in unsaturated fat and vitamin E which fights off the free radicals associated with stress. Just a few almonds will keep your heart from racing when panic attacks. 

Milk

High in antioxidants and vitamins B2, B12 and D, as well as protein and calcium, a glass of warm milk is an ideal stress-buster. One to two glasses of milk a day can be a natural mood booster that can help a person to feel happier and more productive. Drinking a glass of hot milk before going to bed dwindles the effect of insomnia and ensures a calm and rested sleep. Choose fat-free milk over full fat milk so you do not overload your body with oils. 

Oranges and Lemons

Peel your way to the magic of vitamin C locked inside a juicy orange. Stress can deplete your vitamin C stores, preventing the efficient functioning of your immune system. Researchers from Montreal's Jewish General Hospital found that patients in a study experienced a significant and rapid improvement in their moods shortly after taking vitamin C. The vitamin plays a vital role in regulating the body's hormone levels, particularly those like Serotonin that affect mental and emotional well-being. 

Bananas

One of the world’s healthiest foods, bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that the body converts into serotonin, the hormone that makes you cheerful. They also have carbohydrates to boost your energy and contain a lot of potassium that prevents cramps. Take two bananas a day to keep the doctor away.

Eating anything delicious stimulates the production of endorphins, making you happy and reducing pain. Take these foods in moderation for too much would mean unnecessary calories.