Stress often causes anxiety and increases adrenaline during difficult times. When problems subside, even temporarily, your body's blood sugar levels drop. You need food to sustain your energy levels during the cycles that occur from stress, Psych Central explains. Certain foods, such as high-fat foods or large portions in heavy meals, can interfere with digestion and worsen stress and anxiety. Natural foods digest smoothly and help to provide calming effects and essential nutrients.
Digestion Aids
Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables digest rapidly and aid in the digestive process. You also replenish your body with nutrients that have been depleted through stress and anxiety, HolisticOnline.com points out. Eat lots of leafy green vegetables to reload your body with healthy B vitamins. Necessary vitamin C sources include citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, red or green peppers and broccoli. Refuel your lost potassium levels through potatoes, avocados, squash, bananas and peaches.
Mood Enhancers
Whole grains contain complex carbohydrates, which may provide relaxation effects on the body by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain, according to MayoClinic.com. Serotonin helps improve moods. Whole grains also give you a full feeling without causing the indigestion from fatty foods. Consume whole-grain breads and cereals, oat bran, oatmeal, brown rice and barley.
Snacks
Nuts and sesame seeds contain tryptophan, an essential amino acid that may help the brain produce chemicals that improve moods, MayoClinic.com notes. Nuts and seeds also provide healthy ways to snack in between meals to stabilize blood sugar levels and avoid hunger throughout the day. Carry a banana or other fruit and dried fruit with you to eat for energy. Fruits, celery or carrot sticks make healthy alternatives to high-fat sweets that cause sugar highs and lows.
Liquids
Coffee, tea or caffeinated soft drinks may stimulate you briefly, but can lead to nervousness or insomnia to compound problems with stress and anxiety. Drinking alcohol may also calm your feelings, but cause anxious feelings later on. Try drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration, which affects moods, natural fruit juices and herbal, decaffeinated teas as part of a diet to relieve stress and anxiety.
Restaurant Choices
You can often select natural foods from menus that may provide low-fat or heart-healthy options when eating out. Have salads, baked potatoes or whole-grain vegetarian sandwiches. Ask for salsa, a nonfat addition, as a topping for your potato. Vegetable soups may have some additives, but can fit into your natural diet if necessary. Enjoy a fresh fruit dish or low-fat yogurt for dessert. Choose a pleasant environment when eating meals to avoid unnecessary conflict that may contribute to stress and anxiety.
