Any diet to help reduce stress needs to include a balance of exercise. Exercise can help the diet work better and reduces stress itself. Avoiding fats and salt also will help ease the body's stress as the kidneys and liver won't have to work so hard to flush the body of salt and toxins and break down fats, respectively. Drinking more water is another dietary element that can help de-stress your body as fluids promote more efficient metabolism, MayoClinic.com reports.
Vegetables and Fruits
A diet rich with vegetables and fruits can help decrease your stress. Your body will benefit from the vitamins and minerals found in fresh fruits. The B vitamins found in fruits and vegetables provide a source of good health to the central nervous system. Eating a healthy diet filled with these high-energy low-fat foods will boost your metabolism and cause your heart to work less hard. They also may make it easier for your kidneys to rid your body of toxins.
Lean Meats and Poultry
Lean meats and poultry can help your body de-stress by lowering fats and cholesterol, MayoClinic.com reports. The Cleveland Clinic recommends trying to eliminate red meat from your diet for better nutrition. This can help your immune system, which in turn can ease your stress levels.
Cutting Cholesterol and Fats
Fats and cholesterol are two of the major contributors to heart disease. Avoiding vegetable oils and butters in a healthy diet will clean the body's system of the floating fats and cholesterol, which build up in the blood vessels. Once your blood vessels are filled with cholesterol, they become hardened causing plaque to occur and cling onto the blood vessel. This causes blockage of blood flow to and from the heart. The Cleveland Clinic recommends cooking all your food in olive oil because its mono-saturated fats provide better health than the fats in other oils.
Eating Fish
A diet that consists of eating fish two to three times a week will help supply the body with omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3s help decrease the fat build-up in your body and help in the prevention of hardening of the arteries, MayoClinic.com reports. Fish also provides iodine and B vitamins that your body needs for thyroid function and central nervous system needs. Beans are another good source of lean protein.
