Do you still have lingering stress about finals? Are you worried about your exam scores? I understand that feeling and have a solution to help ease your stress. In this article, I have included tons of stress-busting foods to help you put your post-final stress behind you and enjoy the summer!

What should I eat?

1. Eggs

I'm sure you've watched TV and heard the parent say, "Eat your eggs. They are good for you." These actors and actresses are right. Eggs are amazing for you!

Whole eggs are packed with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. All of these components are needed to fight against stress. Your body goes to the vitamins and antioxidants to fight all the stress chemicals in your brain. If you aren't a fan of eggs, dress them up a bit. Add cheese or salt. Try cooking your eggs differently. Scrambled or sunny side up. Add some garlic.

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2. Garlic

Do you think garlic eggs would taste good? I'll just tell you now. They can be delicious if you master the garlic shaker.

Garlic has high levels of sulfur, which increases the levels of glutathione in your body. The antioxidants that come from glutathione are the first line of defense against stress.

3. Complex Carbs

Whole-grain foods like bread, pasta, cereal, and oatmeal prompt your brain to make serotonin. This is the feel-good chemical in your brain. This chemical also stabilizes your blood sugar levels.

Complex carbs also give you lots of energy and keep you full longer. The longer you are full, the longer you can focus your full attention on the task at hand.

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4. Fatty Fish

If you have fish allergies, be sure to skip this section. For those of you who aren't allergic to fish, tuna and salmon are great for stress control. Fatty fish are full of omega-3s, which help prevent surges of stress hormones.

You should try to eat 3.5 ounces of fatty fish twice a week consistently to reap all of the other health benefits these fish have to offer. Fatty fish also help with anxiety, depression, and PMS symptoms.

5. Oranges

Vitamin C is key! Oranges have bucketloads of vitamin C, and you and I both underestimate how much this vitamin can do for you. While Vitamin C curbs the levels of stress hormones, it also strengthens the immune system. Part of becoming an academic weapon is not missing too much school, so hopefully, the vitamin C in the oranges will keep you in school.

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6. Berries, Berries, oh my!

Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, all of the above. Due to the high amounts of vitamin C, Berries are crucial to your diet. Much like oranges, berries are stress-fighting foods. Berries also assist with regulating blood pressure and cortisol levels after a peak, contributing to stress levels.

7. Asparagus

These long green trees are high in iron and folate, which help you a lot more than you realize. Folate and iron help stabilize your mood and can reduce anxiety levels, which can be high in a new school year. Asparagus is not something everyone loves, but there are plenty of options. You can eat it grilled, sauteed, boiled, covered in cheese, or whatever works best for you.

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8. Spinach

Spinach is full of magnesium. If you don't have enough magnesium, it can trigger stress, headaches, and fatigue. It's important to load up on spinach.

If you are like me and are not the biggest fan of raw spinach, try cooked or sauteed spinach mixed in with eggs. It is quite an experience! If you aren't a fan of that idea, I recommend that you try putting spinach in a smoothie with other fruits or vegetables. There are plenty of tasty recipes out there! Don't give up on spinach!

9. Black Tea and Chamomile

Black tea and Chamomile are recovery teas. These teas help you recover from a stressful moment or a stressful day. Just relax and let the tea sweep you away. Sometimes, you just need a rest, and these teas do just that.

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Take the Quiz: What Ramen Are You?

There are sooo many pre-packaged Ramen brands out there. Which one should you try/best fits your personality?

What to Avoid

1. Caffeine
2. Simple Carbs
3. Soda
4. Excess Sugar

All of these foods in the list above cause your serotonin levels to spike; this is where the saying sugar high comes from. This spike in serotonin only lasts for a little while; then, it plummets to the ground. Additionally, these foods don't hold much nutritional value, so that's a red flag.

Having a Balanced Meal

Each of these foods can not be a balanced meal on its own; you have to add to or incorporate them into your meals, like spinach in a salad or garlic on your toast. Have fun with your meals, but make sure the meals are structured to fit you and your needs and wants.

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Remember

Now that you have all of these amazingly unique stress-busting foods remember to actively implement them in your life. Make it a habit to eat colorfully, eat foods that are high in vitamins, and remember to consume everything in moderation. These foods should help you have a low-stress and high-focus year!