Medical Reports: Food Fix - Soothe Stress

WSVN -- Family feuds, hours at work, horrible traffic. There are tons of things that can get us stressed out, but nutritionist to the stars Dr. Oz Garcia says there are foods that can help your body deal with stress.

Your first food fix: salmon.

Dr. Oz Garcia: "Having Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet specifically from seafood, more specifically from salmon, is very good for controlling the stress hormone response that could do damage to your body and to your heart, specifically."

Nothing fishy about that.

Erika: "I love seafood, so it works for me."

Another great stress reducer: spinach. It's loaded with magnesium.

Dr. Oz Garcia: "Magnesium is very soothing, is very calming. We use it to help people relax, sleep better."

A good food to have stashed at work: nuts.

Dr. Oz Garcia: "Almonds happen to be a very good source of protein too. They are high in calcium, which is very good for the nervous system."

And, women, here's the best news ever, you can even eat the chocolate-covered ones.

Dr. Oz Garcia: "Women under stress do very well by eating a little bit of chocolate. Here, you get the double benefit. You get the nut, and you get the chocolate."

Another stress-busting food that can keep your heart from racing, avocados.

Dr. Oz Garcia: "Avocados are rich in certain fats, mono and saturated fats that are really, really good to help you control blood pressure naturally."

And stress can raise your blood pressure. An added benefit, avocados are packed with potassium, which help you maintain energy.

Lynn Martinez: "Now, you knew there was going to be some bad news. Coffee lovers put down that cup. Coffee can be high in caffeine which makes stress worse. A better alternative, herbal tea."

Dr. Oz Garcia: "Green tea is really rich in a chemical, phytochemical, plant chemical called theanine, which is very soothing. It has a little bit of caffeine and is really good for your body."

But, keep in mind, no diet will get rid of stress. Eating the right foods just helps your body deal with the damage stress can create, so stock up and get ready to eat next time your nerves peak.

Lynn Martinez: "Next week on Food Fix, we're showing you how to get beautiful skin at any age."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dr. Oz Garcia
www.ozgarcia.com