Why Almonds Are Considered Stress Relievers And How Many To Eat In A Day
Beyond the sheer joy we experience when eating a delicious meal, we can all admit to chowing down on specific foods based on our current mental and physical state. You might scoff at the mental image of someone eating a pint of ice cream post-breakup, but there's actually scientific evidence to back up some of these questionable food associations. According to The Guardian, neuroscientists at the Institute of Psychiatry in London have been able to establish a link between ice cream consumption and the stimulation of our brain's pleasure centers upon analyzing the results of one Unilever ice cream study. Moreover, if you've ever wondered why we turn to chicken noodle soup to cure our illness-related woes, one 2000 study proves a hot bowl of chicken and vegetables has varying healing properties.
Apart from throwing back a few bowls of ice cream though, are there other foods to help pull you away from seasonal mood swings? In 2020, Statista found almonds to be the most popular nut in terms of day-to-day snacking and home cooking but they may provide you with more than a satisfying textural element in your favorite recipes. Almonds are actually a food that can help alleviate extreme feelings of stress and anxiety. What is it about almonds that give them the unwavering ability to relieve unpleasant feelings?
How eating almonds combats stress
There are many natural coping mechanisms we can implement to relieve our own personal levels of stress. Most of us are already aware that getting enough sleep, developing healthy relationships, and eating nutrient-dense foods all contribute to our overall health, but did you know certain foods like almonds actually work to alleviate anxious feelings? You may want to start adding almond cherry granola to your morning yogurt bowl because almonds nutritional profile makes them the perfect food to combat unwanted emotional stress.
Registered dietician, Courtney Barth told Cleveland Clinic we need to strive to maintain our cortisol levels which is the hormone our body releases during stressful situations. One easy way to manage cortisol is by eating a healthy diet rich in fats and essential vitamins. If you're eating a single serving of nuts recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans via California Almonds, one ounce of almonds per day is roughly 23 nuts. This daily snack not only includes viable doses of magnesium which can support heart health but vitamins B and E boost brain health as well. One 2020 study found regular almond consumption can suppress the risk of cardiovascular disease by positively affecting your heart rate in relation to mental stress. The essential vitamins found in almonds allow our bodies to work and perform at their best. However, if almonds aren't your favorite food, there are other snacks you can try that may also reduce unwanted stress.
Try these other stress-relieving foods
Using food to fight tension is a good tactic but you don't always need to reach for almonds if you're feeling stressed. Among the many vitamins and minerals your body needs to function at its best, Harvard Health Publishing claims omega-3 fatty acids may not only help your negative mood but also reduce inflammation in the body which can ease anxiety or depression-related mental health disorders. To include more omega-3 fatty acids into your diet, Healthline suggests incorporating several different fish varieties such as salmon or mackerel. If you're not the biggest fish fan, adequate servings of walnuts and flax seeds will also do the trick.
Apart from omega-3s, Allina Health suggests a number of different foods perfect for relieving stress. Berries are great since they're high in vitamin C thus stabilizing the body's cortisol levels, and asparagus contains a number of mood-boosting B vitamins. While dark chocolate and oatmeal are also recommended, some foods can induce the opposite effect. Among the 14 foods and drinks that are killing your energy levels, Cleveland Clinic notes how alcohol, caffeine, and processed carbohydrates can increase cortisol production, which results in higher levels of stress. If you're trying your best to maintain a calm body and mind, make sure to eat a variety of colorful whole foods so your body gets the nutrients necessary to thrive stress-free.