Foods That Help You Relax and Calm Your Nerves

1. Soup: Not only does the heat and aroma calm your nerves, ingredients like tomatoes, green pepper, garlic, and olive oil contain anti-oxidants, and are rich in Vitamin C to keep you stress-free.

2. Mint: More than giving you a fresh breath, mint also has anti-stress qualities that make it a handy emergency pck. It eases cramps and helps ward off indigestion. Mint is an antispasmodic so it relaxes the muscle, which combats stiffness and aches.

3. Chamomile Tea: It has a major amino acid content of tea leaves which is called L-theanine. L-theanine is a unique preparation for reducing stress and anxiety. It is said to contain two flavonoids called apigenin and chrysin, which are both said to have sedative effects.

4. Nuts: It has a magnesium content (12% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance according to the American Peanut Council) in peanuts. Food containing a high concentration of magnesium relaxes the nerves.

5. Warm Milk: Warm milk contains tryptophan, the conversion of which results in the production of serotonin, which aside from inducing feelings of pleasure is also a sleep-enhancing compound.

6. Pasta / Rice / Risotto: A meal with carbohydrates stimulates the release of insulin, which helps clear from the bloodstream those amino acids that compete with tryptophan, allowing more of this natural sleep-inducing amino acid to enter the brain and manufacture sleep-inducing substances, such as serotonin and melatonin.

7. Fruits: Vitaminc C-rich fruits like dried dates, figs, papaya, banana, strawberries, sweet cherries, orange, mango, pineapple, and grapefruit actually help optimize seratonin production.

8. Chocolate:Helps manufacture serotonin, the neurochemical in the brain associated with this sensation) also brings about a soothing feeling. Highly responsible for the latter effect is the theobromine which is said to relax the body’s smooth muscles.

9. Ice Cream: Ice cream can actually help erase the frayed ends of a working individual's nerves. It also contains calcium. This aids the amino acid tryptophan, which in turn cues the brain to relaxation mode. It is best to opt for low-fat alternatives.

10. Seafood: Also has tryptophan as this rest-provoking amino acid is present in seafood that is ideal after a long hard work day.