Increase the following foods this holiday season to help keep stress under control:
Fresh veggies – All types and
Fruit – I am a big fan of all fruit, but the lower sugar options are berries, melons, citrus fruits and apples.
Nuts and Seeds – Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts and cashews, just to name a few.
Whole grains – Oats, brown rice, millet and quinoa.
Proteins - Proteins are found in the plant based choices listed above and can also be found in the following “clean” choices of wild caught fish, free range/antibiotic free chickens and eggs as well as buffalo meat.
The foods listed above in the anti-stress list stimulate the brains production of serotonin. Serotonin creates relaxed and happy feelings. And let’s be honest, happy, relaxed kids = happy, relaxed parents (and vise versa).
Avoid Stress Inducing foods like:
Caffeine– Tea, coffee, sodas and energy drinks all have stimulants. Over stimulation leads to feelings of anxiety and stress.
Sugar – This goes beyond candy and desserts. You will find sugar added to everything from ketchup to pickles, “healthy” yogurts to sports drink.
Refined carbs – White bread, white pasta, and white rice all have the same effect as sugar. They cause blood sugars to spike and to crash which leads to mood swings and a whole host of other issues as your body is working overtime to try to regulate itself.
Fast food – High in fat, preservatives, additives and salt. Low in vitamins and minerals that are essential to help handle stress.
This information
and more helpful stress reducing info can be found at Stressfreekids.com
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