My Top 10 Foods For Stress Relief

For as long as I can remember, I believed that it was my calling to make a difference. This translated into a disconcerting habit of having an ambitious “to-do” list and never feeling fully satisfied or impressed with myself. Surely, I could do more, be more, and make a bigger difference. When I fell short of the list I would reassure myself with what I deemed was a supportive mantra “Believe; you can do it!”

It wasn’t until I got married and became a mother, that I discovered the impact of my gruelling schedule. I found myself exhausted, overflowing with worry and disconnected from myself. The thing is, with these magnificent changes that occurred in my life — my list grew — with even less time to dedicate to it. I was staunch in my belief that the cadence could not be impacted. Soon enough, there was spillage (a lot of it!).

I found myself struggling, and could not get off the hamster wheel.

This is familiar territory for anyone grappling with stress. And am not talking about good stress — a type of mild stress that can inspire you to achieve a given task or goal. Am referring to its evil twin; the one that drags you down.

Chronic stress, with overexposure to stress hormones, can cause havoc to bodily processes, increasing the risk of numerous health problems: high blood pressure and heart disease, colds, asthma, digestive disorders and cancer, to name but a few. Emerging research also lends support to the idea, that high levels of stress may accelerate the aging process.

For me, stress manifests itself fiercely. It’s not a pretty sight. It’s all-consuming — physically, mentally and spiritually. I battle with sleep deprivation, suffer from aches and pains, feel anxious, exhausted and struggle to focus. For my husband, it reveals itself as irritability and sadness.

I must confess, I was intrigued to learn that women and men react to stress differently, and its impact on their bodies varies markedly. Prolonged exposure to stress, for women, may have a greater impact on their physical and mental health. As we (women) “grow” through life, hormonal changes associated with premenstrual, post-partum and menopausal changes can make us more vulnerable to stress.

It would be foolish to think that stress only impacted me. I could see it in the eyes of my daughter or in the way it played out in my son’s behaviour. They were mirroring me. And when I saw my reflection in them, I didn’t like what I saw. It was a harsh awakening. I realized, I had to work on myself, and find ways to better manage the list.

My husband shares with me the analogy of fixed capacity: When packing your suitcase, you cannot take everything, and need to be selective — only take essential items. And if there’s still some room, then you can fit more. By squeezing in too much, you run the risk of either breaking the suitcase and/or damaging the items inside. I think what he’s trying to convey is: Know your limits and focus on the things that really matter. We argue on this point because I turn around and say, “Everything is important.” He then goes into explaining the “cost of delay,” but I’m done listening and give up.

I know, his wisdom carries weight.

Foods for stress relief (with recipes)

As a registered dietitian, I appreciate the power of food in managing stress. We know that certain nutrients can have calming effects, and incorporating them into your diet may help manage the effects of stress. Here are some of my favourite picks.

1. Chickpeas

Quick Kala Chana Chaat (Black Chickpea Salad)

Vegan Chickpea Curry Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

2. Oatmeal

Soft Baked Oatmeal Squares

No Added Sugar Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

3. Salmon

Easy Lemon Pepper Salmon

4. Blueberries

The Best Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake

5. Probiotic-rich foods

10-Minute High Protein Dates And Yogurt Parfaits

5-Minute Strawberry Lassi (No Added Sugar!)

Health Promoting Easy Fermented Vegetable Recipe

6. Dark Chocolate

Oat Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

7. Nuts

Instant Pot Vegan Broccoli Soup

15-Minute Dried Fruit And Nut Laddu Recipe

8. Leafy Greens

Green Smoothie Recipe

Healthy & Filling Kale Mediterranean Salad (30 Minutes!)

9. Pumpkin Seeds

5-Seed Gluten Free Crackers Recipe

10. Avocados

20-Minute Creamy Avocado Corn Salad

15-Minute Spicy Herb Avocado Dip

Which ones are your favourites? How do you manage stress? Let me know in the comments below!