The All Saints’ Day holidays and the time change that is looming at the end of the week are there to remind us: we have well and truly entered autumn with the seasonal depression and the viruses that accompany it.
The days are getting shorter, the cold is coming, and seasonal viruses are circulating more. The amount of sunlight drops, and the body must adapt to this new level of brightness. We also sometimes have a drop in morale. So many reasons which affect the vitality of the body and our level of stress.
Pumpkin seeds: autumn’s best allies
If the temptation is great to turn to very rich dishes (but so comforting) or even to a small glass (or two) of alcohol, to reduce our stress level, the experts are there to remind us that alcohol is actually depressogenic and can trigger anxiety. And that certain invigorating dishes can also make you gain weight… which risks stressing us out too!
But as dietitian Maggie Michalczyk explains to me, when interviewed by the Huffington Postcertain foods can still provide support, “support our body and help it not to lack vitamins and minerals in times of stress”.
The first of the foods recommended by the dietician to find a little serenity is undoubtedly the least known. “Pumpkin seeds are rich in magnesium, a mineral that can help regulate neurotransmitters in the brain to promote a feeling of calm,” explains the dietitian. “Magnesium also helps regulate the release of cortisol (the stress hormone)” adds- she said.
Can of tuna and kale
Always for more peace of mind, Maggie Michalczyk advises opting for recipes with a can of tuna because this fish is rich in vitamin B6 and B12. “And vitamins B6 and B12 can help prevent and manage anxiety and other mood disorders like depression,” she explains.
And on her podium of the best anti-stress foods, she also adds kale. Because, like all leafy green vegetables, “these green vegetables contain tryptophan, a nutrient involved in the formation of serotonin, aka the happiness hormone.”
Source: www.topsante.com
