5 Stress-Relieving Superfoods that Will Start Your Day Off Right

Thanks to the hustle and bustle of daily life, there’s a good chance that you know all about feeling stressed. But the power of food can do wonders, especially when it comes to the first thing you eat in the morning, and some foods can help alleviate stress, much like how certain foods can naturally energize your body. Now, these stress-relieving foods won’t relax you to the point of sleepiness. Instead, they’ll have a positive impact on your brain’s feel-good chemicals, helping you better manage the seemingly unending list of stresses in your life. In some cases, these healthy stress-relieving foods simply keep you full. And as many foodies will agree, when your stomach’s happy, you’re happy.

Sweet Potatoes

You finally have another reason to go for that a second helping of sweet potato home fries. That’s because thehigh carbohydrate content of sweet potatoes are enough to jump start your blissful serotonin levels, and the fiber will also keep you satiated, preventing hangry feelings later on. 

Oranges

Though you might know vitamin C as an immune system-boosting ingredient, it’s also considered to be a stress-busting antioxidant because of its ability to counteract cortisol, the stress hormone. That means you have a perfect excuse to whip up a batch of fresh OJ in the morning, or grab a whole orange to go.

Leafy Greens

From spinach to kale, leafy greens are full of magnesium, a nutrient that gets depleted during stressful times. These greens also contain folate, which encourage production of the calming neurotransmitter dopamine.Green smoothies, anyone?

Milk

The body creates its own vitamin D exposed to the sun, but it’s only naturally found in a few foods, including milk. And since this vitamin plays a significant role in enhancing happiness, if you’re craving a feel-good wake up call, reach for a glass of vitamin D-fortified milk in the morning.

Oats

Thanks to the fiber in oats, you can fuel up on a breakfast that helps reduce blood pressure. This can be especially useful when your stress is at an all-time high. So consider making your next bowl of oats with milk instead of water the ultimate stress-busting breakfast.