Anne W. Hansen 
Daily stresses can quickly build up whether it’s an impending work, life event or family drama, which leaves you feeling overwhelmed, panicky and uneasy
There are a lot of ways to manage stress, from mindfulness and meditation, to exercise and prioritizing sleep.
Avoid Refined Sugar
Refined sugar in lollies, pastries, soft drink, chocolate, ice cream, and biscuits do give us an instant rise of energy, but this result a sugar ‘low’. This is all linked with how sugar affects our blood sugar levels.
Opt for fruit salad, a healthy, homemade fruit-sweetened muffin, or even a few squares of dark chocolate (ideally 85 percent or greater) instead of those sweet treats.
Avoid White Carbs
Simple carbohydrates like chips, pies and white flour, bread and pasta can cause spikes in blood sugar levels. This is followed by a course of low energy and successive craving for more energy hits.
Choose slow-releasing carbohydrate snacks like whole grain crackers with natural peanut butter, wholemeal toast with avocado, or hummus with veggie sticks rather than opening a bag of potato chips.
Avoid Caffeine
We all know the consequences when we have one too many cups of coffee, the jitters, heart palpitations and trouble sleeping. Stimulants like coffee or energy drinks can leave us feeling worse than before especially when our stress levels are already high.
Reduce caffeine intake and try coffee-like chicory tea or fruit-infused water while you are stressed.
Eat Plant-Based Foods
Plant-based foods like vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains yield us with essential vitamins and minerals. Eating plant-based foods at all times, counting the times of stress, will help our bodies to function properly.
Eat Vitamin C-Rich Foods
It’s projected that high stress levels are associated with a weakened immune system.
Regular consumption foods rich in vitamin C like kiwi fruit, oranges, berries, kale and capsicum can help aid your immune system and give it enhance when you’re stressed.
Eat Prebiotic Foods
Prebiotics are a type of non-digestible fiber composite in the set of food or supplement.
Prebiotics help feed or fertilize the friendly bacteria (probiotics) in our gut. This process boosts our digestion and helps keep our gastrointestinal tract healthy.
Stress upset the balance of bacteria in the gut and immune response.
So eat enough prebiotic foods, such as garlic, onion, asparagus, legumes, unripe banana, whole grains, and artichoke in order to keep your gut healthy
Eat Magnesium Rich Foods
Magnesium is one of the micronutrients which our body depends on to feel fit, healthy and particularly helps boost energy, sleep, and blood sugar and hormone balance.
Magnesium-rich foods such as green leafy veggies, fruit, nuts, and seeds, raw cacao and seafood can help to decrease fatigue.
Whereas low magnesium levels can result in a low mood, insomnia, and high blood pressure.
Drink Herbal Tea
Herbal teas, such as chamomile, lavender and passionflower tea, has the calming characteristics that can help you relax, destress and ease into sleep.
Herbals tea are not only warming, soothing drink (without the stimulating effects of caffeine), but it also offers the perfect opportunity to kick back with a good read or TV show.
