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Foods to calm you down fast

Posted Fri, Oct 26, 2007
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Holiday bills arriving in heaps? Lurking taxes turning up the tension? No Valentine in sight? Regardless of the cause, there's an almost Alice in Wonderland counter-intuitiveness to the goodies we turn to for comfort. Instead of soothing our frayed nerves, many of them ultimately make us feel worse.

Take the classic-curling up with a pint of ice cream. It's a total backfire. Why? Sweets are insidious: After the initial rush, the body's insulin response kicks in, causing a sudden blood sugar drop that triggers the release of stress hormones. Soon you're feeling more jangled than you were before you inhaled that whole container of Chunky Monkey. And alcohol, of course, is a wolfish stimulant in calm sheep's clothing.

But true comfort foods do exist.

1. Berries, any berries
Eat them one by one instead of M&Ms when the pressure's on. For those tough times when tension tightens your jaw, try rolling a frozen berry around in your mouth. And then another, and another. Since the carbs in berries turn to sugar very slowly, you won't have a blood sugar crash. The bonus: They're a good source of vitamin C, which helps fight a jump in the stress hormone cortisol

2. Guacamole
If you're craving something creamy, look no further. Avocados are loaded with B vitamins, which stress quickly depletes and which your body needs to maintain nerves and brain cells. Plus their creaminess comes from healthy fat. Scoop up the stuff with whole-grain baked chips-crunching keeps you from gritting your teeth.

3. Mixed nuts
Just an ounce will help replace those stress-depleted Bs (walnuts), give you a whopping amount of zinc (Brazil nuts)-it's also drained by high anxiety-and boost your E (almonds), which helps fight cellular damage linked to chronic stress. Buy nuts in the shell and think of it as multi-tasking: With every squeeze of the nutcracker, you're releasing a little bit of tension.

4. Oranges
People who take a 1,000 mg of C before giving a speech have lower levels of cortisol and lower blood pressure than those who don't. So lean back, take a deep breath, and concentrate on peeling a large orange. The 5-minute mindfulness break will ease your mind and you'll get a bunch of C as well.

5. Asparagus
Each tender stalk is a source of folic acid, a natural mood-lightener. Dip the spears in fat-free yogurt or sour cream for a hit of calcium with each bite.

6. Chai tea
A warm drink is a super soother, and curling up with a cup of aromatic decaf chai tea (Tazo makes ready-to-brew bags) can make the whole evil day go away.

7. Dark chocolate
Okay, there's nothing in it that relieves stress, but when only chocolate will do, reach for the dark, sultry kind that's at least 70% cocoa. You figure if the antioxidant flavonoids in it are potent enough to fight cancer and heart disease, they've got to be able to temper tension's effects.

  • 1. Posted by jj on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Per research papers, a typical dosage of GABA (short for gamma-aminobutyric acid) for anxiety or sleep disorders is 100-200 mg up to three times daily. Dosages of GABA found to benefit a subset of individuals with epilepsy ranged from 1,500-2,500 mg daily. It's also not recommended for pregnant or lactating women because of its effect on neurotransmitters. So watch out, even if it's from a health food store with claims of natural, you are still medicating yourself and this is still therefore a "medication" and a person needs to know how much to take depending on their gender and state of current health. Meds from health food stores must be taken with the same care as any med from the "medical establishment".

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  • 2. Posted by johnh on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Why isn't beer on the list? Thats my go to for stress releif

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  • 3. Posted by Dude on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    a good quality of sleep helps relieve stress too. i like all the suggestions on this page. i will try some of them out.

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  • 4. Posted by gotya on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    health food stores will tell you what ever you want to hear

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  • 5. Posted by sassenach1743 on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Gamma-aminobutyric acid smoothie....yummm.

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  • 6. Posted by Instinctual on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    All the research I've studied, shows GABA doesn't cross the blood brain barrier. L-Theanine is good, or possibly a pre-cursor to Serotonin like 5HTP.

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  • 7. Posted by DragonMissy5 on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Berries, avocado and chocolate??~ It's a winning combination! ^_^*

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  • 8. Posted by parand6 on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Useful info. thanks

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  • 9. Posted by gotya on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    health food stores will tell you what ever you want to hear

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  • 10. Posted by jeffoneonone2004 on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    To numbers 11 and 14, some of us are trying to relieve our stress from a LACK of a sex life, thanks anyway.

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  • 11. Posted by John N on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Re, oranges and vitamin c; If you need 1000mg, then be prepared to eat a lot! A large orange MAY contain 70mg, so that means you have to eat a dozen of them! Better yet, pop a vitamin C and take more than 1000 mg. I was friends with the late Linus Pauling, inventor of orthomolocular science wherein you give high amount of vitamins to acheive optimium health. I take 8000 daily on average.

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  • 12. Posted by coldplaywithu on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    As for taking herbal "medications" to releive stress, watch out. The best way to nourish your brain is to eat the right food and to exercise. Period. Don't waste your cash. (For us English speaking folks, Chai is simply the name of a kind of tea. I do not hear "tea tea" because I speak English. I like to be called Chai tea, so I don't mix it up with other kinds :) What is moronic is that I am actually taking some of my lunch hour to respond).

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  • 13. Posted by Fudge on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    I think that going it the natural way is best...all these foods give you great health benefits apart from only relieving stress. Why look for any other remedy...just go to your local supermarket. Why not walk there - another excellent way to relieve stress...

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  • 14. Posted by sulabha on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    There is a company called "Nu-Life" that makes splendid products that really work. For years I had sleeping problems and nothing works but Natrarest by Nu-Life really does. I don't use it all the time now - but a few nights in a row sets a pattern and then ... ZZZs. The other product by the same company called Tranquility works when I am really stressed and anxious. The best part is that it contains all natural ingredients - hebs, roots, etc..

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  • 15. Posted by Maggie on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Right on Fudge!

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  • 16. Posted by take a pill on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    To "coldplaywithu" (I am a cold play fan)...Chai tea is redundant. I speak English too and most people I know are aware that chai means tea. I agree with everything else you say - eat right, exercise and sleep well. As busy as everyone is nowadays, these things have to take priority. Don't medicate yourself - leave GABAergic drugs to those who medically need it.

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  • 17. Posted by Duma on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Tropical fruit durian also is calming fruit as it is good for digestion.

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  • 18. Posted by Kenny D on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Vigorous exercise beats all. It engages your mind away from the stressors, it is(should) be enjoyable, it can be social, it has long term benefits, you are improving yourself, it makes you tired (better sleep), it balances your appetite. Get up, get out, get active!

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  • 19. Posted by Bluebird2008 on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    The right thing to do, the natural way? Truth is that natural products, what to eat, what it does for you, all of that is like Wikipedia: it's a vox populi truth. Not based on verifiable facts but whatever the general population is ready to swallow as th truth. You want to feel better? Listen to yourself! If ice cream, beer, non black chocolate, shopping for heaven's sake does it for you then do it! I sooth my nerves with a long walk, a coffee and chocolate. Is it good for me? Hell yes! When I'm down I need to feel better no feel like I'm on a freaking diet! I can go back to taking care of my body after. And for God's sake leave the Chai tea alone next you'll get a French guy to tell you to stop calling French fries French because they are not!

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  • 20. Posted by auntyem on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    ...oranges, nuts, berries.... crap? right... tell that to Mother Nature (as much as I DO love chocolate, it does have too many negative effects...)

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  • 21. Posted by w8titsme on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    It certainly is something to think about.

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  • 22. Posted by Dewy on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    I've always found that sitting alone listening to your favourite music with a glass of Armerito on the rocks calms me down the best .

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  • 23. Posted by Robbi B on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    De-stress with whatever feels good to you. For me, that changes depending on the day, my mood and the stress factors involved. Sometimes yoga, sometimes, chocolate, sometimes berries, sometimes smoking. Whatever. Seems to me it's healthier to reduce your stress level any way you can than it is to worry about whether or not you're reducing stress "properly". And for you nitpickers, when us English speakers say chai tea, we are referring to a specific spiced blend - masala chai - which is why most of us add the word tea. You might hear tea tea, we hear spiced tea.

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  • 24. Posted by jj on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Gamma-aminobutyric acid itself is a inhibitory neurotransmitter distributed throughout the central nervous system. Essentially, if you take it, you are taking "extra" of this inhibitory neurotransmitter. It inhibits excitation within the central nervous system, that's why it calms you down. Too long to describe here but it is not useless per statement by phoenix30 as there are analogs of this neurotransmitter that are taken by people with health problems related to lack or low levels of it. Bottom line is it's better not to medicate yourself with something from a health food store - just good diet and exercise, and if that doesn't work, see a professional who can suggest various alternatives.

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  • 25. Posted by joanne80329tsung on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Whats Gamma-aminobutyric acid ?

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  • 26. Posted by sangilma on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    I really love reading those comments,sometimes there are people that really knows and that helps,u know what? I love avocado and chocolate;)

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  • 27. Posted by GreatEastern on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    I mean! What's an ounce in Canadian?

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  • 28. Posted by George D on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    Zahmed_1970, Thanks, didn't know that about CHAI. i like the stuff, myself. but for me, to relieve stress? heck, alone or in any combination, give me the following: Chocolate -love dark, it IS the best-, sex, and mixed nuts. If I have to include anything else or select another option, guacamole and chips/crackers -whole wheat or not- or lastly, a couple oranges or a grapefruit. still get my C that way, too, and that only depends on which one is in the house. Chocolate I'll walk for, lol

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  • 29. Posted by George D on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    what negative effects auntyem? good for youre heart, tastes great, and you don't need to polish off the whole bar, just 1-2 pcs (yes i have the control to do that) is all u need. any more stress? try then the nuts/oranges.

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  • 30. Posted by Skizzorz on Wed, Jan 30, 2008

    I think the thing is, they are suggesting things that do MORE that just relieve stress. How about the fibre, good fats, vitamins and minerals, etc. in these foods. I take vitamin suppliments...A multi vitamin, C, D, Fish Oil..in addition to trying to eat better and excercise as much as I am able. I have a chronic pain problem so am also on perscription meds, but I've cut some of those back because I don't like some of the adverse effects.

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