Reducing stress is very important for overall health and especially during your fertility journey. Fortunately, there are some foods that can make stress reduction easier. Here are a few of the best ones to keep your stress levels lower.
1. Oatmeal
As a complex carbohydrate, oatmeal is good at lowering stress levels and keeping blood sugar steady. It releases serotonin, which can help you stay calm and relaxed, and encourage you to feel more creative.
2. Tuna or Salmon
Fatty fish like salmon and tuna have a lot of omega-3 fatty acids in them. These acids are good at regulating the levels of adrenaline in your body and keeping stress hormones like cortisol better controlled. They may also reduce blood pressure.
3. Berries
Blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and other types of berries are full of fiber and antioxidants. They’re also loaded with vitamin C, which helps blood pressure and cortisol levels return to normal after they spike.
4. Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is a great option for a sweet treat that’s also good at reducing cortisol. It also contains a lot of antioxidants, and there are options that don’t have much added sugar in them.
5. Chamomile Tea
This tea offers muscle-relaxing properties, along with a light sedative effect. It’s well-known as a tea to reduce stress, relieve migraines, and settle the stomach.
6. Whole Grains
Carbohydrates can increase serotonin temporarily, which can reduce stress and increase focus and concentration. By choosing whole grains and other unrefined carbs, you get these benefits without as much of a blood sugar impact.
7. Avocados
Much like fatty fish, avocados are full of omega-3 fatty acids. By boosting concentration and mood, and lowering cortisol levels that lead to stress, avocados can help you feel more focused, happier, and less stressed-out.
8. Nuts and Seeds
Many nuts have B-vitamins and fatty acids in them, while seeds are full of magnesium. All three of these nutrients have been shown to help with stress and anxiety, making seeds and nuts good choices to keep stress levels lower.
While it’s not possible to eliminate all the stress in life, choosing the right foods can help reduce its impact.
At The Fertility Institute of San Diego, our practice philosophy is to treat each patient as we would our own family members. The team at our San Diego fertility center knows that you are special, so we treat you as such. We take great pride in being a boutique practice, where our single IVF doctor knows everything about your case and treats you at each visit. She also performs all your ultrasounds and procedures, including egg retrievals and embryo transfers. We combine cutting-edge Western medicine with Eastern alternatives such as acupuncture. If you’d like to learn more, contact us today!
