Stress Fighting Foods – Ramuan Style

Now that fall is officially here, an onslaught of stresses may return as quickly as they disappeared on your summer vacay. If you’re someone who turns to food in times of stress, don’t worry. You can use this to your advantage for boosting your health, and not your waistline. 

According to David Zinczenko, author of Eat This, Not That, you should eat when you’re stressed – it’s our bodies’ “natural reaction to want to store calories to face whatever challenge is causing the stress in the first place.” Inspired by one of his recent Yahoo! Health articles, we’re going to provide you with some stress fighting foods – in true Ramuan fashion, of course.

1. Mangosteen

Mangosteen is a tropical “superfruit,” native to the Malay Peninsula. Mangosteen is revered in Southeast Asia for its rare flavor, which is a cross between a passion fruit and a peach; and it is often eaten as a dessert fruit or made into jams. According to Health and Beauty from the Rainforest, Mangosteen has been found to contain potent antioxidants known as xanthones, which help support the immune system.

2. Green tea

Made with steamed tea leaves, green tea contains EGCG and has been widely studied. Green tea’s natural compounds promotes cell health, supports cardiovascular health, supports caloric burning and combats oxidative stress. How’s that for stress relief?

3. Bananas

The Malays refer to it as, “Pisang.” This popular and simple fruit contains a wonderful combination of natural sugars, magnesium (a stress relieving mineral) and potassium that supports immune health. Serotonin is a powerful natural hormone that excites the brain and makes one feel great. The natural vitamins and minerals found in bananas—which include vitamins B6, K, C and iron—also help keep the nervous system in tip-top condition, plus support immune health, vitality and general health. So when taking on your next big task, why not stock up on a few bunches to help boost your mood? 

If you're feeling stressed, how do you keep yourself from reaching for that piece of pizza or can of diet soda? Do you have any go-to healthy foods besides the three we mentioned?  (There are plenty more!)