Kylie asks: What can I eat to relieve my stress?
Wynnie says: We're all born with an instinctive stress response: whenever we're exposed to potentially harmful or dangerous situations, stress hormones are released into the bloodstream that cause an instant 'fight or flight' response. Most of us live at such a fast pace these days that, instead of using this response in emergencies, we activate them daily.
Eating the right balance of foods and avoiding certain ones (such as caffeine) can help boost our immune system and enable our bodies to deal with everyday stresses.
So what can you eat to beat stress?
1 Antioxidant-rich foods Vitamin C is required to make adrenaline. A lack of this vitamin reduces the activity of cells in the immune system that destroy harmful bacteria and viruses, thus making us more vulnerable to colds, flu and other diseases. Stress depletes vitamin C and other antioxidants, such as vitamins A and E and selenium from the body.
Citrus fruits, which are rich in vitamin C, can help prevent the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Boost your immune system by including oranges, mixed berries, nuts and kiwi fruits in your daily diet.
