Stressed Out? These 14 Foods Can Help.

Feeling stressed? Welcome to the club.
Everyone is impacted by stress even as research shows too much stress can do more than impact your health and happiness -- it can actually impair your brain’s ability to block toxins. Chronic stress can weaken your immune system and even damage your artery walls.
While regular exercise and breathing techniques can help, another good option is to revamp your diet -- not to eat less, but to add these stress-busting foods. Adding just two or three of these to your daily food intake can really make a difference.
Dark, leafy greens

Vegetables like spinach and kale are high in folate, which makes them fantastic stress busters! Folate produces dopamine (the brains’ pleasure chemical) and that is a GREAT thing. There's a correlation between folate and lower levels of depression.
Best of all, the consumption of dark leafy greens will help decrease your cognitive decline as you age. According to a 2015 research study by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), adding more spinach, kale and collard greens to your daily diet will increase your vitamin K consumption, which can help preserve your memory and thinking skills. So next time you have a salad, make it the spinach salad. With the oily dressing and bacon on the side (or not at all!) of course.
Avocados

These little gems are not only high in folate like leafy greens, they are also packed with nearly 20 vitamins and minerals including vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B and Potassium. Folate helps to prevent the build-up of homocysteine, a substance that can impair circulation and delivery of nutrients to the brain. Excess homocysteine can also interfere with the production of seratonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which regulate mood, sleep and appetite . . . all VERY important things when trying to keep your stress levels low.
They also have zero cholesterol and zero sodium, but they do contain saturated fat, which some studies have linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease, so avoid making the avocado your main course.
Blueberries

Dark Chocolate

When you are stressed, you may be inclined to dig into some chocolate. When that happens, make sure you are reaching for dark instead of milk -- that way, you may actually do yourself some good. A 2011 Chemistry Central Journal study showed that dark chocolate contained more antioxidant activity, polyphenols and flavanols than other fruits they tested, which included blueberries and acai berries. Dark chocolate can also help lower blood pressure, which is great since lower blood pressure decreases feelings of stress.
Related: 11 Habits of Truly Happy People
Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a non-wheat grain, high in antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds called polyphenols. Most notable is a unique group of antioxidants called avenanthramides, which are almost solely found in oats and are natural anti-inflammatory qualities.
Avenanthramides help lower blood pressure levels by increasing the production of nitric oxide, a gas molecule that helps dilate blood vessels and leads to better blood flow, which in turn reduces stress.
As an added bonus, oatmeal helps to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. If you think oatmeal is boring, then think outside the box. Go ahead and add fresh berries (that’s TWO super foods together!) and toasted nuts to the top of your bowl.
Garlic

Oysters

Turkey

The tryptophan in turkey is responsible for your entire family falling asleep after Thanksgiving dinner, but its calming effect is real. In a study published in the Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, researchers found that people who took tryptophan supplements for 15 days reported higher levels of agreeableness than participants who took placebos. Tryptophan increases serotonin, so grab yourself a turkey sandwich (preferrably on whole grain) once a week. Better yet, add avocado to that meal and you’ve got two stress-busting super foods mixed together!
Alaskan Salmon

Many researchers consider DHA to be the most important fat found in the human brain, and the unusual concentration of this omega-3 fatty acid in salmon helps explain the research-documented benefits of salmon and omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fatty acids can help fight anxiety and decrease the risk of depression, as they help to control brain inflammation. In addition, these omega-3 fatty acids also contribute to improved heart health. Most fish, particularly salmon, are incredibly rich in omega-3s, so find a way to infuse (wild-caught, if possible) salmon into your week and your heart will thank you.
Chamomile Tea

Fermented Foods

Sunshine

Yes, I know that sunshine is not actually food, but taking in a daily dose of sunshine might help stabilize your mood.
Serotonin, the brain hormone associated with mood elevation, increases with exposure to bright light and decreases with less sun exposure. People with low levels of vitamin D are 11 times more prone to be depressed than those who get healthy doses of the big yellow star.
Low vitamin D levels are also associated with an increased risk of panic disorders. While you can get some vitamin D in foods like salmon, egg yolks, and mushrooms, your best bet for optimizing your vitamin D levels is by getting regular sun exposure.
Related: Why Exercising Is a Higher Priority Than My Business
Seeds

Magnesium, which acts as a precursor for neurotransmitters like serotonin, is well-known for its role in helping to regulate your emotions and enhance well-being. Sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds are excellent sources of magnesium, and these are easily added to salads, oatmeal or even just consumed as a snack. Increasing your magnesium levels will help you feel less anxiety, be less prone to panic attacks and have a decreased risk for depression.
Cashews

Another good source of magnesium, cashews are also cholesterol-free and loaded with antioxidants that keep you away from heart disease. With so much magnesium and antioxidants, cashew nuts help lower your blood pressure. In turn, that reduces your risk of heart disease and that's a sure fire way to reduce your long-term stress levels.
Introducing these super foods into your weekly intake will help reduce your stress level, make you feel more productive and keep your anxiety at arm's length.
If you can't fit all of these into your schedule (or just don't like some of them), then don't worry: Even one or two of these a day can make a difference. Enjoy!