Stress has become a part of our daily life while trying to balance a relationship, kids, extended family, a social life and a career. There are a number of things which can be done to lower the stress level. These include exercise, meditation, and deep breathing, but do you know that it is possible to strike out at stress by just opening your mouth. There are several foods that act as great stress-fighting superfoods and have a power to calm ragged nerves. These superfoods include:

Oranges:

We all love oranges, which are not  just a delicious treat but also packed with disease fighting vitamin C. The vitamin C in a citrus product like the healthy orange will give our body a natural booster shot and helps prevent an even more stressful life event such as an illness. Oranges are also  rich in a compound called citrus limonoids, which has been proven to fight a varieties of cancers including skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon.

Green Tea:

This slightly nutty tasting tea, either hot or cold, is a great health booster in many ways as it contains antioxidant properties. It is also full of theanine, which is a  natural remedy for stress. Studies show that a cup of green tea boosts your body’s immune to reduce mental and physical stress.

Almonds:

Try crunching on almonds to get some stress out.  Almonds are a healthy, mellowing choice because they contain tyrosine, one of the 20 amino acids that your cells use to synthesize proteins. They are also a good source of magnesium, potassium, zinc and iron. Recent studies show that when eaten in moderation they can also help with weight loss and those who ate the nuts had lower body mass indexes. If that’s not enough, almonds also promote healthy skin and prevent premature appearance of wrinkles.

Chocolate:

According to a study, eating 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced the levels of stress hormones in people who were reportedly highly stressed. Since chocolate contains theobromine, a myocardial stimulant, it increases heartbeat and dilates blood vessels causing a reduced blood pressure. It also contains cocoa which boosts your neurochemicals that tell your brain to produce a sense of happiness and relaxation.

Fish:

Fishes such as salmon and tuna which contain Omega-3 fatty acids can help in reducing stress. Test takers who consumed more of the healthy fats for three weeks halted a surge in stress hormones.

With Swine and other kinds of flu spreading worldwide, we need to protect ourselves and our loved ones by taking protective measures such as taking a flu shot, using hand sanitizers, wearing gloves, and opening less public doors. Well apart from adopting these protective measures, it is  the time to ramp up our body’s immune system to fight these growing menace.

Here in our first blog post, we thought of bringing up in your notice, some immune booster foods that should be in your flu season diet in order to increase your immunity level to fight flu.

Green Tea: The list of green tea’s health benefits also includes fighting the flu. Green tea is high in anti-viral activity against influenza. Green teas contain higher levels of the flavonoids (substances that are responsible for plants’ colors, as well as many of their health benefits) which are thought to be responsible for tea’s antiviral properties.

Chicken Soup: A steaming bowl of chicken soup is known to be the cure for every ailment, from the common cold to a nasty scrape on the knee. To get the anti-inflammatory and other health benefits of it, doctors suggests making chicken soup with vegetables at home.

Foods with Vitamin D: A sufficient amount of vitamin D offers protection against flu such as swine flu as it produces antimicrobial substances in the body. Milk, malted drink mixes,  fortified cereals, roasted sockeye salmon and other good seafood etc. all provide vitamin D.

Yogurt: Probiotics the friendly bacteria found in yogurt and some other foods helps in boost the body’s immunity and reducing cold and flu symptoms. You can get probiotic bacteria naturally by eating yogurt with active cultures and fermented foods such as miso, tempeh, and kefir.

Spicy Peppers: Spicy peppers are also a great source of vitamin C  and have antiviral properties and stimulate antibody production. They have the power to reduce the incidence of pneumonia. Eating foods rich in chilli is a great kick start to your immune system as well as your taste buds.

Foods Rich in Beta Carotene: Beta carotene is an organic compound which is known as an immune system enhancer. It produces  natural infection fighting cells that help and protect your body from invaders. Sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, mangoes, papaya and squash are foods high in beta carotene and should be included in the diet.

In addition to above mentioned foods, make sure you eat plenty of whole grains, fruit, vegetables and low-fat protein to keep your immune system strong. Think of nutritious foods as part of your diet, and you’ll be ready to do fight whenever illness strikes.