You can help yourself and make your food even better when you add calming herb and spices to fight anxiety. While clients who workout at Body Sculptors in Louisville, KY, often find that working out helps, sometimes you need even more. That’s where eating right and adding a few extra herbs and spices to your food can be a huge benefit. Best of all, herbs and spices add health benefits and don’t add extra calories.
Have you tried a cup of chamomile tea?
This age old herbal remedy was used by both Greeks and Romans to help bring a sense of calm and relaxation. Studies verify that chamomile helps you relax and can have a profound effect on reducing anxiety. It contains antioxidants like flavonoids, phenolic acids and quinones. Not only does it help stress, it’s also used for headaches. You use the flowers of German or Roman chamomile. Dry them and mix 2 teaspoons of dried flowers with 2 cups of boiling water. Let it set for a minute and strain. A tea ball makes it easier.
Lavender can be eaten, but it’s relaxation comes from the scent.
Whether you use it for aromatherapy or massage oil, lavender has many properties that will help you. If you have trouble sleeping, which can come from anxiety and lead to anxiety, try putting a few drops of lavender essential oils on your pillow. Just one FYI, while the flower and plant is edible, the essential oil isn’t. Inhaling it has proven to lower blood pressure and heart rate. It’s also good in oil for a massage. Studies are showing it may help relieve asthma and allergic inflammation. It also could lower the effects and frequency of hot flashes.
Purple passion flower tea is another relaxing remedy for a better night’s sleep.
While the fruit of passion flower is delicious and often used for jams and beverages, it’s the leafs, stems and flowers you use for the tea to help you relax. It’s been used by native Americans for centuries to aid relaxation and sleep. Scientists believe it increases GABA—gamma aminobutyric acid levels in the brain, which causes the feeling of relaxation. If you can’t sleep, drink a cup. You can use premade tea bags or grow your own, dry it and use a tablespoon of dried passion flower to a cup of hot water. It’s also good for menstrual cramping and PMS.
- St. John’s wort is another herbal tea that can bring relaxation. It’s a herbal remedy used for years for sleep problems, anxiety, SAD—seasonal affective disorder—and mild to moderate depression.
- Eating healthier can help reduce stress. For instance, ensuring you have adequate L-lysine and L-arginine in your diet can affect the neurotransmitters involved with stress and reduce both anxiety and stress levels.
- Kava has been known to reduce stress. Just make sure you don’t overdo it, since too much could potentially be harmful.
- Turmeric is another spice that’s a good addition for your health. It’s an anti-inflammatory, which also can help people with mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
For more information, contact us today at Body Sculptors Personal Training