We all need to relax often times and luckily for you there are some random kitchen items that can help you achieve that easily.
Random Kitchen Items That Can Help You Reduce Stress
Herbal Tea Helps Promote Feelings of Warmth and Calmness
Sometimes it’s the feeling that food or drinks induce, not their nutrients, that helps reduce stress. Drinking a warm cup of tea is one way to help make yourself feel calmer, says Sandra Meyerowitz, MPH, RD, an online nutrition coach and owner of Nutrition Works in Louisville, Kentucky.
Past research has suggested that holding and sipping a warm beverage increases feelings of interpersonal “warmth” and friendliness.
There’s a soothing effect of sipping a warm drink, regardless of the flavor but certain herbs, like lavender and chamomile, have been shown to have a relaxing effect on their own. Therefore, green tea can also be a preferable choice compared with coffee if you’re looking to chill out.
Dark Chocolate Offers an Antioxidant-Rich Indulgence
Dark chocolate in the diet can reduce stress in two ways, having a chemical impact and its emotional impact. Chocolate feels like such an indulgence that it can be a real treat to simply savor a piece of it, and that feeling alone can help to reduce stress, says Meyerowitz.
Dark chocolate, which is rich in antioxidants, may also help reduce stress by lowering levels of stress hormones in the body, aim to eat only one-fourth of a small dark chocolate bar (about 1 oz).
It’s also important to choose high-quality dark chocolate.
Whole Grains Provide a Mood-Boosting
According to prior research, carbohydrates can temporarily increase levels of serotonin, a hormone that boosts mood and reduces stress.
Once serotonin levels are increased, people under stress have better concentration and focus. Just make sure to choose healthy, unrefined carbohydrates, like sweet potatoes and whole grains, for better nutrition, and limit simple carbs, such as cookies, cake, and “white” foods, including white pasta and white bread. Unrefined carbs cause a quick spike and crash of blood sugar, while complex carbs contain vitamins and minerals as well as fiber, and so take longer to digest and have less of an immediate impact on blood sugar.
Written by Uchechukwu uzougbo
