Five Foods to Help You Fight Stress from Joy Bauer

When we’re stressed out, the foods we typically think of reaching for are not the healthiest, from chips to ice cream. These foods made “feel good” as we eat them, but they’re probably not doing much for biological factors that make us feel stressed out. Instead, try these five foods from Today Show nutritionist Joy Bauer.
1. Grapefruit
We all know vitamin C is important for the immune system, but did you know it can help fight stress? Research has shown that this vitamin can help reduce the affects stress have on the body, such as raising blood pressure. Fresh grapefruit is one of the best ways to get a daily dose.
2. Steel Cut Oats
The carbohydrate in oatmeal stimulates the production of serotonin, which helps you relax and feel good. Steel-cut oats are best because they’re minimally processed, and cause a slow rise in blood sugar, not a spike.
3. Chamomile Tea
Instead of a caffeinated beverage, sip on a cup of chamomile tea. It’s a mild sedative that can ease irritability and even help relieve muscle tension.
4. Dark Hot Chocolate
More than a sweet treat, milk and dark chocolate make for an excellent stress-busting combo. One study found that consuming 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate per day reduces stress hormones, while the peptides found in milk may reduce anxiety by increasing serotonin and lowering blood pressure.
5. Salmon and Chickpea Salad
Folate and Omega-3s are also important for maintaining mental health, and this salad is a great source of both. The salmon provides the omega-3s, while one cup of chickpeas makes up 70 pence of the daily recommended intake for folate.