Eat feel good foods to spread the cheer

Stress is one of the largest killers of mankind today. It causes most of our illness whether physical or mental. Stress is the bane of today's society and plays havoc on our physical and mental make-up. When a person is exposed to prolonged periods of stress, he can develop ailments like high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, cancer and various immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, depression etc.

Food has a profound effect on both mind and body. Health is a reflection of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being. A person with a disturbed mind cannot have a healthy body because the mind is the monitor of our physical health. Savouring your favourite delicacies while you are a bit blue can actually help calm your nerves and make you feel relaxed. Always eat food high in tryptophan. This amino acid helps the brain produce serotonin - a chemical that calms you down and melatonin - a hormone that can make you sleepy. It's not only great for relaxing, it's also a natural sleep aid and can help with depression and seasonal affective disorder(SAD).

Indulge yourself in some good healthy food. Try to reduce stress and think that your are eating something good for yourself. Foods that destress are: milk, chicken, eggs, nuts, chocolate, beans, honey, pasta, cakes and desserts. These foods contain tryptophan which increases the levels of serotonin in the brain. Some amount of fat in the diet also helps increase serotonin levels.  Its  proportion is not fixed and it depends on a person's weight and therapeutic condition. Some of these foods taken at a regular interval are said to be very healthy for the body and  some of them can help in reducing the chances of being affected by deadly diseases.

Individuals who have allergy to eggs or chicken should skip these items. Also, those who have 'lactose intolerance' need to avoid milk as their body does not have an enzyme to digest the same.

Some of the food which are also considered as stress relievers are:

Dark Greens Leafy Vegetables: Dark green leafy vegetables are good for so many things, calming your nerves just happens to be one of them. These veggies contain lots of  B-complex vitamins which are crucial for preventing stress because they're needed to make serotonin, a chemical that helps boost your mood.

Asparagus: Asparagus is rich in folic acid, a B vitamin that is necessary to prevent irritability, fatigue, depression and even confusion.Whole Grains: Whole grains also help lift your mood because they're rich in B vitamins. Make sure you're really eating something with whole grains.

Berries: Berries are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, which is known to help keep the stress hormone cortisol steady.Salmon: The omega-3 fats found in salmon may help reduce feelings of stress.

Avocados: Add some avocado slices to your sandwich or salad or whip up a batch of guacamole for a quick boost in your B vitamins (plus, avocados can help prevent cancer and they're great for your heart).