Today’s crazy busy lifestyle can d amage our central nervous system, especially if we are not taking proactive steps to counteract th e perpetual negative effects on our body.
An overtaxed nervous system typically expends most of its resources just defending the body against attack, whether it is in the form of anxiety, panic, or stress; they all deplete your energy reserves and have the potential to harm your endocrine system.
There is a simple way to counteract this damage, eat foods that minimize the amount of time and energy your nervous system spends in catabolic mode, foods that nourish, heal, and regenerate your body.
Here are seven powerful foods that can help calm your nervous system naturally for maximum health:
1) Whey
Whey is naturally rich in L-tryptophan, which assists in the production of serotonin, which in turn regulates endocrine, digestive, nervous system, and blood health, and a wide range of healing amino acids and nutrients, which are excellent for calming your nervous system.
Whey is also rich in L-glutamine, a non-essential amino acid that is the precursor to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a substance that helps regulate the nervous system and promote calmness.
2) Sweet potatoes, yams
This starchy vegetable has bulk to keep you satisfied and an impressive nutrient roster with high levels of vitamins A, C, and B, sweet potatoes are a nutritionally-dense food that can help calm your nerves, eliminate stress, and lower your blood pressure.
Yams contain an array of nutrient compounds that feed the glandular system and promote respiratory, urinary, and nervous system health.
3) Bananas
This handy, easy-open packaged fruit is packed with high doses of potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and other nutrients that help boost production of digestion-enhancing mucous, as well as promoting feelings of happiness and calm in the body. They assist production of serotonin and melatonin, which are crucial regulators of mood and sleeping patterns.
4) Green tea
Green tea contains the amino acid L-theanine that enhances mood by stimulating production of alpha waves in the brain, it naturally reduces stress and promotes relaxation.
5) Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate and cacao are packed with antioxidants, essential minerals, and protective plant nutrient flavanols, they also contain L-tryptophan and magnesium, a mineral widely recognized for its ability to calm the nervous system.
Dark Chocolate also contains the neurotransmitter anandamide, it has the ability to alter dopamine levels in the brain causing a sense of peace and relaxation. 6) Brazil nuts
Said to be nature’s richest source of selenium, these nuts are incomparable when it comes to relaxing the nervous system.
7) Spinach
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Spinach is a great way to obtain fat-soluble vitamins that build protective layers that protect your nerves from damage, including vitamin K, to help your brain and nervous system function as they should.
SOURCE:101 Best Super Foods, Betsy A. Hornick, MS, RD, 2011
Edited 7/1/14 by Stephanie Dawson
