#HealthBytes: Top five food items to beat exam stress
Exam days could be a tricky time. Especially during competitive exams, students are under tremendous pressure to score well, which ultimately brings them anxiety and stress. Not just that, examinees also tend to be quite careless about their health (read meal quality and timings), which is wrong. Here are top five food items and some handy diet tips to help you beat exam-related stress.
Tea
A recent study found out that participants who drank tea de-stressed quicker and had lower levels of stress hormone, as compared to others. But, do stick to non-caffeinated, herbal tea options like chamomile, peppermint or ginger tea. They can help soothe the digestive tract, and have a calming effect on your body. So keep sipping soothing, hot tea in between study-sessions to feel better.
Nuts
Stress depletes our body's Vitamin-B levels. And, snacking on nuts can help restore the same. Further, research suggests that the potassium in nuts lowers blood pressure, and reduces the strain that stress might put on our heart. Plus, nuts are easy-peasy to have. You can pick some on-the-go, and start munching right away. Don't forget to mind the numbers though, to avoid getting fat.
Milk
Milk has, since long, been preferred as a pre-bedtime remedy for treating insomnia and restlessness, thus bringing better quality sleep. That's because milk has plenty of antioxidants and is also rich in Vitamins-B2, B12, protein and calcium. Further, the protein lactium calms you down by lowering your blood pressure, while the potassium content of milk relieves muscle spasms that are triggered by stress.
Dark chocolate
Research suggests that consuming chocolate can help keep levels of stress hormones (including cortisol) in check. Also, chocolate is a natural mood-booster that promotes positive thoughts. But, don't fall for those sugar-loaded products being sold in the name of chocolates. Choose only good-quality dark chocolate (which is atleast 70% cocoa). Also, mind your portions, as too much of dark chocolate may bring unwanted calories.
Berries
Apart from the juicily delicious taste of berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), they can also lower down your blood pressure and cortisol (stress hormone) levels. This happens because berries are rich in antioxidants such as anthocyanin, which are known to have amazingly positive effects on our body, including boosting of brain power. Additionally, the high Vitamin-C content of berries can significantly help lower stress levels.
Essential diet tips to stay healthy during exams
Here are some essential diet-tips to follow in order to stay healthy during exams. 1) Eat smart by taking smaller meals, but at regular intervals. Also, ensure good supply of a wide range of nutrients. 2) Never delay or skip breakfast. 3) Avoid unhealthy snacking - eat healthy snack options such as sprouts, popcorn etc. 4) Eat mindfully, without any distraction. 5) Stay hydrated.
