Being pregnant is the happiest and also a stressful event for any mother. There are just too many things happening with your body and with your environment for you not to feel some stress. You can regulate stress and anxiety while pregnant through your diet. Below, are five drinks you can make at home to regulate your stress while pregnant.
1. Water
Water is the first drink on this list because it’s the key to everything when it comes to regulating your body and its various features; that includes your mood. You won’t make any real progress in your attempts to control anxiety if you aren’t staying well hydrated. Any progress you do make will be much less effective and long lasting than if you made that same progress while being optimally hydrated.
Water is important because it improves and enhances your body’s ability to release and spread endorphins, the mood-altering hormone responsible for stress relief. When your body is dehydrated, all its functionalities including the ability to release hormones take a dip. Your brain also loses the ability to focus.
2. Valerian Root Tea
Tea has long held the reputation of being a soothing beverage, mostly due to its ability to induce sleep or drowsiness. Valerian root tea has very potent anxiety and stress relief effects. Studies have shown that it can improve the quantity of Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) compound in in the brain. This is one of the compounds that regulates and calms nerve cells.
It functions in the same way as powerful pharmaceutical medications like valium and Xanax thanks to the active agent, valerenol. However, unlike the pharmaceutical alternatives, valerian will not cause any side effects. Drink a cup of valerian root tea an hour or so before you plan on going to bed to improve your quality of sleep. If you drink it during the day, make sure to avoid any activities that will be harmful to carry out if fatigued, like driving.
3. Lion’s Mane, Kefir, Matcha Smoothie
Not every brain nourishing drink has to be bitter or tasteless. Some, like this lion’s mane smoothie can even taste great enough to the point that you actually look forward to drinking them. Lion’s mane is a type of hairy Asian mushroom that has been growing in popularity over the years due to its neurologically nourishing properties. Essentially, it is a type of brain superfood. Consuming this hairy mushroom has been shown to treat ulcers, reduce inflammation, prevent the formation of cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s, boost immune functionality, and promote neural generation.
It’s also been shown to prevent anxiety and depression. He fruit bodies of lion’s mane, known as, Hericium erinaceus contain hericenones which provide NGF(nerve growth factor). Its rot contains erinacines, compounds that provide an even more substantial NGF. Both compounds enhance neurogenesis and hippocampal neurogenesis, which help to prevent the formation of depression and anxiety.
4. Anti-Anxiety Smoothie
Another great smoothie choice for reducing anxiety and stress, is this anti-anxiety smoothie. It is made by combining avocado, cacao, almond butter, and chia seeds together in a blender. All of the major ingredients work together to reduce stress and alleviate anxiety.
The avocado provides B complex vitamins which promote stress relief while keeping your brain cells and nerves healthy.
The chia seeds are great sources of magnesium which is crucial for managing stress and depression. They along with the avocado also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which have powerful anti0infalmmatory benefit that help to lower stress and anxiety.
The almond butter contains zinc which helps your body modulate its reaction to anxiety.
Finally, the cacao boosts serotonin levels, which is a hormone that regulates and improves mood. The polyphenols contained in cacao also help to minimize the levels of stress inducing hormones being produced.
5. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Juice
One of the best ways to keep your stress levels in check is to simply make sure you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. The easiest way to do this is to intake lots of fruits and veggies. Studies have shown that when people consume 1,000 mg of vitamins every day, they will react more mildly to stress than people who fail to do so.
