Stress is an unavoidable part of life. A certain amount of stress can be considered normal and helps children to develop the skills they will need to cope up with new situations that arise in life. Childhood stress could be due to a number of factors.
Managing childhood stress
Stress can be experienced by children school as well as at home. There could be a lot of pressure on students to perform well within their peer groups. The fear of failure and bullying are also some reasons that can lead to stress in the school environment.
At home, parental separation, remarriage, poverty, financial problems, coping with parents, and high expectations from the family can lead to high levels of stress in children. Children can also have a general fear of strangers, street violence, and burglars.
Foods to help manage stress
Here are certain foods that can help to manage stress in children. When we are stressed, the brain sends signals to the body to be ready for a physical response. The digestive system is also profoundly affected by stress.
- To keep stress at bay, it is best to feed your children the right amounts of food at regular intervals of time. Ensure that your kids have a healthy breakfast every day since this keeps the metabolism up and running. This is, in fact, the best way to manage stress.
- To manage stress, fruits and vegetables that contain magnesium, vitamin B and C should be included in the diet. Bananas, nuts, avocados, green leafy vegetables, dairy products, and fish are very rich in vitamin B. Vitamin B helps one to feel energetic enough to fight stress.
- Citrus fruits such as tomatoes, kiwi, and oranges are rich in vitamins C and can help control stress.
- Include foods that are rich in magnesium in your child’s diet to reduce anxiety and stress. Beans, peanuts, and green leafy vegetables are rich sources of magnesium.
