April marks National Stress Awareness Month. The goal of this initiative is to educate people about the perils of stress and to enlighten people about different practices that may help alleviate stress. Stress often derives from the workplace or classroom for many people, as they may be overworked or underpaid. While solutions for these issues are hard to come by, there are some easy lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your stress levels.
Exercise is one of the most effective ways to combat stress, seeing as working out produces endorphins, which creates a short feeling of euphoria that also helps with sleep. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that create this “runner’s high” response that you hear about after exercise. Working out additionally helps build up self-esteem, which helps lower your stress, considering it simply makes you feel better about yourself.
However, the most important way to reduce your stress is to eat healthily. While eating healthy will help lower your stress seeing as it will improve your health, there are specific foods that are linked to improving the mental condition.
1. Oatmeal
While oatmeal is healthy, seeing it’s full of antioxidants, which help boosts your immune system, what makes it instrumental in improving your mental state, is that your body releases serotonin when you eat it. People who eat oatmeal in the morning are believed to have a better attention span at their workplace or in the classroom.
2. Grass-Fed Beef 
While red meat isn’t great for your health, regardless of whether or not it’s grass-fed or grain-fed, there are Omega-3 fatty acids in grass-fed steaks. Omega-3 fatty acids help:

• Lower triglycerides
• Alleviate stiffness and joint pain
• Lower inflammation
• Curb asthma attacks
• Prevent Alzheimers

Omega-3’s also helps fight depression, as it’s been found that people with Omega-3 rich diets are less likely to have depression or anxiety disorders. It’s also believed to help  boost the effects of anti-depressants as well.
3. Chocolate
Chocolate may not be necessarily great for your health, however, despite its sugar content, chocolate is proven to help boost the immune system. Although milk chocolate may be the better tasting of the two chocolate types, dark chocolate is significantly more healthy. It contains the antioxidants flavonol and polyphenol, which help fend off infections and illnesses.
4. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is a popular drink for many people before bedtime, as research suggests it helps induce sleep. People also find that this plant-based tea produces a calming effect, perhaps explaining why it helps people sleep. Chamomile tea is also recommended for people with anxiety disorders, as evidence suggests it helps curb the condition’s symptoms.
5. Blueberries
Blueberries contain an antioxidant called anthocyanin. Like all antioxidants, anthocyanin helps boost the immune system. It additionally is proven to elevate attention span, while its Vitamin C is proven to help the body mentally collect itself in stressful situations and lower blood pressure.
If you’re curious about your diet, feel free to visit us at AFC Urgent Care Methuen. To speak with one of our medical professionals, call us at 978-470-0800.