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The ‘anti-stress’ diet: Can you EAT your way to a calmer life?

WHETHER it’s due to looming deadlines, a young family or simply just never
having enough time to relax, stress can be a prominent part of our daily
lives.

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   | UPDATED: 08:55, Thu, Sep 15, 2016

   Stressed woman
   GETTYFrom physical exercises to colouring in books, there are various
   techniques to minimise stress

   In an ever-demanding society, the expectations placed upon us in the
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   A recent study conducted by Harvard and Stanford University found a
   stressful workplace could quite literally shorten your lifespan.

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     Rick Hay

   Stress has become such a common part of our day-to-day routine that
   many people both expect and accept it, but this does not have to be the
   case.

   From physical exercises to colouring in books, there are a wide variety
   of techniques recommended by experts to minimise the impacts of stress.

   IFRAME:
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   Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Rick said: “Getting the right
   nutrition and nutrient density into your diet can help to relieve the
   symptoms of stress and anxiety.

   “In particular increasing the intake of foods that are rich in vitamin
   C and B group vitamins help to nourish the nervous system and may
   assist in decreasing stress levels.

A-Z of vitamins and minerals
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   Rick also advised foods that are rich in antioxidiants can assist to
   improve overall health and help keep the body and immune system strong
   during times that are stressful.

   Below are the best foods to include in an anti-stress diet, according
   to Rick Hay.

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   Dark Chocolate GETTY
   Dark chocolate contains an array of vitamins and minerals that can
   reduce stress

   Something bitter-sweet

   “Dark chocolate can be a great stress-fighting food, as it contains an
   array of vitamins and minerals that can reduce stress and studies also
   indicate that it can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.”

   Bananas GETTY
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   “The antioxidants also nourish all of the body's systems so are great
   to help boost overall health, which often suffers when we are stressed
   out.

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   “Leafy green vegetables and salad greens are high in magnesium, which
   helps to relax the nervous system and can reduce the muscle tightness
   so often associated with times of high stress.”

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