Natural Foods To Calm Your Nerves

According to 2007 study review from Carnegie Mellon University psychologist Sheldon Cohen, stress is a major contributor to a variety of human diseases. Natural foods that calm your nerves might help prevent disease as well as contributing to a sense of overall well-being and contentment. Nutritious food, exercise and stress management are important for optimal mental and physical health. Anxiety can signal an underlying health problem, making it important to discuss persistent symptoms with a health care provider.

Fish

Ohio State University scientists showed omega-3 fatty acids in fish were able to calm nerves in highly stressed medical students in a July 2011 study. The goal was to see if fish oil compounds could lower inflammatory chemicals in the body called "cytokines" that are released by stress. During the study, scientists found a 20 percent reduction in anxiety in students given omega-3 fatty acids, compared to those given no treatment, or placebo. Omega-3 fatty acids can be increased in the diet from a variety of dietary sources.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate can calm the nerves by reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol. A 2009 study from the Nestle Research Center found 40 grams of dark chocolate a day, given up to two weeks, lowered cortisol levels in the bloodstream and other biological markers of stress in high anxiety individuals. Dark chocolate has long been suspected to have a calming effect. The research showed the sweet treat positively impacts chemical response to stress in healthy individuals.

Yogurt

The probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus casei, found in some brands of yogurt, was studied by researchers at Toronto University for easing anxiety in 39 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Scientists compared the effect of the yogurt ingredient on calming nerves to placebo. Participants given the probiotic had a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms in the two-month study. The authors explained the calming effect of Lactobacillus casei in yogurt may come from a biochemical link between the gut and the nervous system.

Mediterranean Diet

Try switching to a Mediterranean diet for an overall approach to improve mood and calm nerves. A small study from Swinburne University researchers, published February 2011, showed 10 days of consuming foods that are part of the diet -- whole grains, nuts, beans, limited red meat, olive oil and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables -- promoted contentment and increased mental clarity in young healthy adults. The diet contains foods that are rich in beneficial oils, low in fat and heart healthy.