It’s a known fact that stress levels can soar over the festive season, but what you eat can help keep your immunity strong so that you can actually have fun – isn’t that what the holidays are supposed to be about, after all? Antioxidants in food can help keep stress at bay. Here’s how to add them into your diet to feel good.
Green Tea
Swap your regular coffee with green tea when you’re stressed. It contains antioxidants such as catechins and theanine that calm the mind. So, if you’re stressed out over last-minute shopping or irritating relatives, sip on this beverage to maintain focus.
Oranges
Since they’re packed with Vitamin C, oranges improve your immunity and they fight off free radicals with their antioxidant properties, which is good ’cause stress can increase free radical damage.
Dark Chocolate
What better way to beat stress than with a sweet treat? Dark chocolate tastes delicious but also contains resveratrol, an antioxidant also found in wine that can lower blood pressure. The bonus is it prevents health conditions such as strokes and heart disease.
Ginger
Here’s a good reason to add ginger to your Christmas cookie recipe: it contains gingerol, an antioxidant that fights toxins in the body that can lead to physical and psychological stress.
Apples
Rich in flavonoids, apples can alleviate stress effects on the body thanks to their quercetin. This is a flavonoid that helps to control asthma and make you heal quicker after a bout of acid reflux, two conditions that can be worsened by stress.
Allium Vegetables
This group of veggies contains antioxidants that keep your immune system stronger, while guarding you against free radical damage that can be caused by stress. Examples of allium vegetables include garlic, leeks and onions. Since they’re also loaded with lots of nutrients, such as iron, calcium and sulfur, these veggies are a must to add to your savoury dishes.
Foods with Selenium
Selenium is a nutrient antioxidant that must feature in your Christmas stress-less menu. It helps to protect neurotransmitters in the body, and if you’re lacking this vital antioxidant it can lead to anxiety. Try to eat good sources of selenium on a regular basis, such as Brazil nuts, shellfish, whole wheat bread and sunflower seeds.
Image here
