Foods that soothe and calm nerves

Foods that soothe and calm nerves

by -
0 720

If you’re feeling stressed, take heart: what you eat and smell may help you de-stress. The part of the brain that processes odours is very close to the part that houses emotions and memories. So, when you sniff something you like, you tend to breathe more deeply, your blood pressure lowers and your heart rate slows – all of which relax you. Eating some foods may help relax you, too. So, arm yourself with these soothing scents and tasty foods to cope when you are stressed.

Sniff an apple: If you like the smell of green apples, embracing their aroma may help alleviate headaches. In one small study, people with chronic migraines reported some pain relief after inhaling green-apple fragrance at the start of a headache.

Sip on tea: Drinking caffeinated black, green or oolong tea varieties may elicit a more alert state of mind. Researchers think theanine – an amino acid present in these tea varieties – may work synergistically with caffeine to improve attention and focus. Drink five to six cups of tea daily.

Cut into a coconut: When you’re stressed, the scent of coconut may blunt your natural ‘fight or flight’ response, slowing your heart rate. People who breathed in coconut fragrance in a small pilot study at Columbia University saw their blood pressure recover more quickly after a challenging task. The researchers speculate that inhaling a pleasant scent enhances alertness while soothing our response to stress.

Nibble on chocolate: Recent research shows eating dark chocolate can help reduce levels of cortisol and catecholamines – hormones associated with stress – especially for those with high anxiety. Go easy, though: chocolate is calorically dense: eating too much can pack on the pounds and that can lead to more stress.

NO COMMENTS

Leave a Reply