Five diet tips to help reduce stress

Note: This is the third in a series on diet tips this week
There are many ways to relieve stress: exercise, get sufficient sleep, partake in a hobby, or go shopping are common cures.
What many people don’t know is that changes in your diet can help reduce stress as well by helping to alter your body chemistry in a positive way.
The following are five things you can add to your diet to help reduce stress:.
Vitamin B – The conversion of tryptophan, which is an amino acid that makes the mood-improving chemical serotonin, is helped by vitamin B. This vitamin also is essential for maintaining healthy brain cells and nerves.
Vitamin B6 is found in foods like nuts, while B12 is in meat and dairy products. Many people also recommend taking Vitamin B supplements.
Folic acid – Another great way to reduce stress is by making sure to get folic acid in your diet. Asparagus and wheat germ – put on your yogurt or in recipes – are excellent source of folic acid.
Omega-3s – The fatty acids found in fish and tuna or also tablets you can buy help block the rise of stress hormones in your body.
Carbs – Try eating raspberries, blueberries or any other kind of berries if your feeling stressed instead of unhealthy choices like candy or ice cream. The carbs in berries increase the level of tryptophan.
Complex carbs like whole-grain pasta and whole-grain cereal also bring about slow releases of tryptophan
Vitamin C – Berries and other fruits are also great sources of Vitamin C, which helps keep the body’s stress hormone – cortisol – from going on the rise.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com