5 foods you can add to your diet to combat stress

Published Updated 2 Min Read

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When most people think about mental health support, diet guidance may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet understanding the connection can improve well-being and reduce stress.   

As noted by Harvard Health, 95% of serotonin — the neurotransmitter known for regulating sleep, moods and appetite — is produced in one’s gastrointestinal tract. This means the foods we put in our bodies do more than affect our weight or physical measures of health like cholesterol and blood pressure. As employers look to improve their employees’ overall wellness, diet habits can’t be ignored, underlines Wesleigh Roeca, workplace well-being director at Lifesum. 

Prebiotic foods can reduce inflammation and make more neurotransmitters like serotonin, explains Roeca. These foods include vegetables like broccoli, spinach and carrots; whole grains like oats, quinoa and brown rice; and legumes like beans, lentils and chickpeas. 

Read more: Can AI solve the mental health crisis?

Deanna Cuadra
Senior Reporter

Deanna Cuadra is a senior reporter at Employee Benefit News. Her work covers healthcare, U.S. policy and reform, challenges faced by women and parents in the workplace and innovation in work culture … Read full bio


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