5 FOODS — YOU’RE PROBABLY NOT THINKING OF — TO RELIEVE STRESS

Danny Trifone
2 min readJun 23, 2020

Sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds are a rich source of vitamin E. This fat-soluble vitamin acts as a powerful antioxidant and is essential for mental health.

Sunflower seeds are also high in magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc, B vitamins, and copper.

Sprinkle these on a salad to boost your intake of stress-reducing nutrients.

Tahini

Tahini is made from Sesame seeds and it’s typically found in hummus.

It’s an excellent source of the amino acid L-tryptophan — a precursor of the mood-regulating neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin.

Following a diet high in tryptophan may help boost mood and ease symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Here’s a great article from Bon Apetit with 36 ways to incorporate more Tahini in your diet.

Acerola cherry powder

Acerola cherries are one of the most concentrated sources of vitamin C. They boast 50–100% more vitamin C than citrus fruits like oranges and lemons.

You know all about Vitamin C, but the decrease in mood regulation that it provides is pretty amazing.

The easiest way to access some Acerola cherry powder is through Amazon. Blend it with bananas and ice and you have yourself a simple superfood smoothie.

Artichokes

Artichokes are an incredibly concentrated source of fiber and super rich in friendly bacteria. Essentially, it’s your bottle of prebiotics that you can add to a salad. Check out the stats here.

Kimchi

Kimchi is a fermented vegetable dish. Most popular it’s made with cabbage and radishes. It’s packed with good bacteria for your gut and super high is vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

PubMed has conducted research that fermented food leads towards a reduction in anxiety.

Add kimchi to your tacos, salads, and rice dishes. Serve it cold and add the Kimchi after the dish is already cooked.

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Danny Trifone

Director of Content at Blue Door Media. We email a newsletter twice a week focused on mental fitness. Join us, the Door is Open: https://bluedoormedia.co/