However, food can make the most significant difference to your good mood. These five foods contribute to reducing stress and anxiety. Could you keep reading and consume them?
Avocado
This favorite fruit of most people is rich in inflammation-fighting monounsaturated fatty acids (a reaction to cellular stress) and countless other anti-inflammatory compounds.
The healthy fats in this fruit promote blood flow to the brain and lower blood pressure.
Cashew
Cashews are a great source of zinc, a vital mineral in managing the body and the brain’s response to stress. Individuals with chronic anxiety have shown signs of improvement with zinc supplementation. If you are not a fan of cashews, which can be a great idea for everyday snacks, you can have a refreshing and sweet cashew juice.
Dark Chocolate
In its darker, natural version, chocolate has been linked to higher serotonin levels (a chemical responsible for regulating your mood). It also contains magnesium, which can promote anxiety reduction. This isn’t an excuse to eat an entire bar of chocolate when your boss stresses you out, but you can replace your afternoon snack cookies with a 70% dark chocolate piece.
Orange
This citrus fruit is rich in vitamin C, which promotes lower cortisol levels in the body and reduces the physical and psychological effects of stress. Try making orange juice or consume more peppers, which are also rich in this potent vitamin.
Vegetables
Vegetables like spinach, kale, and broccoli are rich in folic acid, a nutrient that helps maintain normal serotonin levels in the body. Lunch salads are a great way to get your greens, but you can also add them to shakes for your daily greens fix.
What To Eat When Blood Pressure Is Low?
1. Small And Frequent Meals
The NHS recommends eating small, frequent meals throughout the day and lying down or sitting for a while after eating to ease symptoms of low blood pressure.
2. Drink Water
Since dehydration can be one of the causes of low blood pressure, consuming more fluids should also be among what to eat when your blood pressure is low.
It is essential to drink more fluids, especially when the weather is hot and while the person has a viral illness such as the flu or a cold.
3. Foods With Vitamin B9 And Vitamin B12
Another possible cause for hypotension is vitamin B9 and vitamin B12 deficiency, so we also recommend eating foods that serve as a source of these nutrients, such as eggs, fortified cereals and beef (in the case of vitamin B12) and asparagus and liver (in the case of vitamin B9), for example.
4. Salty Foods
Salty foods are usually the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about what to eat when blood pressure is low. They can help in this regard because they make the stress go up.
On the other hand, we warn that, although the sodium present in salt dramatically increases blood pressure, it is necessary to talk to the doctor before increasing the intake of salt in meals since excess sodium is harmful and can lead to heart failure.
5. Licorice Tea
It is also recommended to drink licorice tea, arguing that the drink can reduce the effect of aldosterone, a hormone that helps regulate the impact of salt on the body.
According to a case presented in The British Medical Journal, drinking the drink can increase blood pressure levels, Healthline added.
However, before taking this tea, consult your doctor to know if it is not contraindicated for you, if it is not harmful to be taken together with any medicine, supplement, or plant that you use and in what dosage and frequency it is can be used.
What To Avoid
Knowing what to eat when your blood pressure is low is essential, but you also need to know what to avoid during hypotension.
The NHS warns that to alleviate the signs of hypotension, it is necessary not to consume too many alcoholic beverages and not drink caffeinated drinks at night.
It is recommended to avoid consuming too many carbohydrate foods, mainly processed carbohydrates because these foods are digested quickly, something that can result in low blood pressure.
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