Food to help you relax

Dump the drink and try some fresh fruit to get rid of that pesky stress. Photo courtesy of MCT Campus.

Exams to take. Papers to write. Rent to pay. A part-time job – maybe two – on top of a full schedule. It all piles up.

So you’re stressed. You’re downing coffee in the morning to stay awake in class and going out for drinks on the weekends to blow off steam - but is it really helping? The truth is, caffeine and alcohol can exacerbate anxiety, according to LiveStrong.com. To energize your body without crashing later, try lean beef, fish, fruits, veggies or yogurt. Also, stabilize your metabolism by eating small, low-fat meals through out the day instead of two or three big meals.

As college students, many of us have poor diets, but watching what you eat may be the difference between wigging out over an exam and passing it with out a problem. One secret to easing your anxiety could be to try super foods. According to CalmClinic.com, super foods are natural foods, like fresh fruit, that give our bodies a little boost. Some of these include peaches, blueberries, almonds and chocolate. Yes, chocolate! But not vending machine candy bars. Raw chocolate that has high cocoa percentages is rich in magnesium. A lack of magnesium can make you sluggish and moody.

Spinach is also high in magnesium; just one cup has 40 percent of your daily value. This sounds like an excuse to go to Applebee’s for some spinach and artichoke dip to me.

If you’re feeling tense, WomensHealthMag.com recommends the old warm-milk remedy for anxiety and restlessness. Calcium is said to reduce tension, so you might want to pour yourself a glass of milk – preferably skim or 1 percent.

If you feel your anxiety is too overwhelming, don’t be afraid to make an appointment with Psychological Services here on campus.