Whenever I'm having a night where I feel especially stressed out, I tend to gravitate toward the foods I love most, like gnocchi, or just about any kind of taco ever invented. And while I have no qualms about filling my body with things I enjoy, eating foods that don't have a ton of extra nutritional value doesn't always make me feel less anxious, especially when I'm having a particularly rough day. Thankfully, experts say there are plenty of ingredients that relieve stress, that can easily be added into the meals you already love to prepare for yourself. For instance, the next time I'm craving gnocchi after a hard day, I might just add some spinach on the side to help me chill out even more (more on the stress-relieving powers of this leafy green in a bit).
"It is best to try and incorporate these ingredients into your diet on a daily basis for maximum health benefits," Melissa Eboli, a certified nutritional chef and certified nutrition and wellness counselor, tells Elite Daily in an email. In other words, some of these ingredients can work instantaneously, but eating them on a regular basis will do the most to drive away anxiety.
