Tis the season to be…stressed out. As wonderful as the holidays are, I, like many others often feed excess stress and anxiety during this time as well. Anyone else relate?
Along with therapy and self care, nutrition can play a key role in helping to manage that stress and anxiety. I’ve put together this post and a meal plan which highlights how certain nutrients can play a role in assisting with managing stress and anxiety. Food is number one but if you are having trouble meeting certain nutrient targets, I’ve partnered with @Megafood to showcase which of their real food supplements can be used to help you meet those nutrient targets.
Meal Plan:
Below are the highlights of which key nutrients in this meal plan could play a role in managing stress and anxiety:
Omega 3: A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps keep cortisol and adrenaline from spiking when you’re feeling tense. The omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that may help counteract the negative effects of stress hormones. Load up on flax seed, chia seeds and walnuts!
Magnesium: Magnesium assists in calming nerves and muscle relaxation. Magnesium is found in spinach, almonds, avocado, bananas, beans and seeds. I’ve also been turning to Megafoods Magnesium Triple Complex which is a highly absorbable 3-in-1 magnesium blend (bisglycinate, malate and citrate) formulated to assist with muscle function.
B Vitamins (B6, B12, Folate): We need B vitamins for healthy nerves and brain cells, and feelings of anxiety may be rooted in a B vitamin deficiency. For example folate helps the body create new cells and supports serotonin regulation. You can check out Megafoods Balanced B Complex which contains B vitamins from real food like kale and brown rice.
Food sources of B Vitamins: Green leafy veggies, avocado, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C can assist with lowering cortisol and boosting immunity. Each of these recipes are a significant source of vitamin C. Peppers, tomatoes, oranges, marinara sauce and pineapple are all vitamin c champions found in these recipes!