If your stress levels are a little high and you want to forgo the doctor-prescribed medicines
to lower them, then why not copy the secrets of the world’s most relaxed countries.

What secrets are those, you ask?
Food secrets.
Foods found at your local grocery stores.

So, to lower stress levels, become more calm and increase happiness,
eat the following…

a) Chocolate-
If someone were to ask you what country produces the best chocolate,
many of you would guess Switzerland.
Another little known fact: they (the Swiss) also consume the most chocolate.
And this may explain why they (the Swiss) take the top slot for overall life satisfaction
and are in the top 5 of nearly every study on health, life expectancy and contentment.
Chocolate is loaded with mood-lifting ingredients like magnesium and the antidepressant
compound theobromine, which activates neurotransmitters that keep you calm and increase
happiness levels.
Your Rx: Enjoy a a few squares of a top quality dark chocolate each day. (preferably 70%
cocoa and unsweetened).
b) Avocados-
Yes, the country is in the news a lot thanks to the drug cartels, the poverty and immigration,
but for the most part, the people are laid back and happy and the fatty fruit known as the
avocado should get some of the credit.
Researchers say that a majority of the stressed-out population is low in B vitamins,
especially folic acid and that’s where avocados can make a difference. Avocados are
packed with tension-taming nutrients, plus blood pressure-lowering potassium
and brain-enhancing fatty acids. Mexico was of the first countries to cultivate
avocados and it’s still a staple in their diet to this day.
Your Rx: Thanks to a number of stores like Aldi, Trader Joe’s and Costco, you can
find avocados for 75 cents to $2 apiece, so there’s no excuse for not eating them.
And if you’re a pregnant woman, eat them to keep stress levels down, but also to
deliver a healthier and happier baby.
c) Cheese-
This is a no–brainer, if you’re thinking France, give yourself a pat on the back.
Researchers say that thanks to their consumption of cheese, the French are
some of the calmest people in the world. How does cheese help?
It (cheese) lowers the stress hormone known as cortisol, plus raise your levels
of the amino acid tryptophan by 45%, which your body converts to serotonin,
a hormone that makes you feel safe and secure.
Your Rx: You may be tempted to buy the inferior and cheap types of cheese,
but don’t, buy a top quality type of cheese, but eat only a small amount each day.
Your waistline will thank you, as will your wallet.
d) Mushrooms-
The Japanese and Chinese eat a lot of mushrooms and that explains why
so many seem calm and content, but head to Sweden and you’ll also meet a lot
of people that also eat quite a bit of the fungi. Foraging for wild mushrooms
is more than a hobby, it’s a way of life for a lot of Swedes. Mushrooms are an essential
ingredient in many of their most popular dishes like meatballs, pates and soups.
Mushrooms work because they contain mood-boosting vitamin D, and chromium
picolinate, a mineral that clears away brain fog and reduces anxiety as effectively as
some Rx meds.
Your Rx: No need to break the bank and buy mushrooms like Portobello, cremini
or porcini, just pick up some white button mushrooms at Aldi or Costco and
add them to veggie stir-fries, soups, salads, or sauces.
e) Oats-
This can also be a food tip from Switzerland, starting each day with a bowl of
oats (museli) but it’s not, it’s from Norway. Complex carbs like oats, lift your
moods and calm your nerves until well after lunch. The hearty grain triggers an
uptick of mood-regulating serotonin, lowering stress levels in less than an hour.
And some more good news: Researchers say that those who eat oatmeal
a few times a week have half the rates of depression compared to people who
never eat it.
Your Rx: Buy good quality oatmeal at any discount grocery store and eat it for
breakfast, lunch or dinner. For breakfast, add some fruit and dark chocolate to
it and at lunch or dinner, add some mushrooms and stir-fried veggies to a bowl.
f) Fish-
Eating a few servings of fish each can be claimed by a number of countries,
but we’ll stick to certain parts of Italy, Greece, Denmark and Iceland.
And if negative thoughts, high stress levels and uncontrollable mood swings are
getting the best of you, perhaps you may want to become more like the
people of some Mediterranean and Scandinavian countries and add more
fish to your daily menus.
Fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids, quality proteins, vitamins and minerals,
which prevent surges in stress hormones, plus fish helps reduce inflammation,
especially the inflammation in and around the brain region, that causes the
mood swings and higher stress levels.
Your Rx: Again, head to Aldi, Costco or Trader Joe’s and stock up on
canned salmon, sardines and tuna and if your budget allows- splurge on
something decadent like mussels, crab, lobster, wild caught trout or shrimp.
These types of fish are also high in omega-3 fatty acids.
And another tip for pregnant women- keep mood swings in check,
lower stress levels and deliver a healthier and smarter baby by eating
2 to 3 servings of fish each week.
Avoid fish that is deep fried, as it increases your odds of having a stroke.

That’s it- your grocery list for this week, to help you lower stress levels,
just like they do in other parts of the World.

Sources:
* Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones and The Blue Zone Diet
* Bloomberg News Report
* International Journal of Alternative Medicine
* UCLA Research Dept.
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