Stress relief: How diet and lifestyle can help reduce stress and anxiety

Salmon

Make friends with the fishmonger because salmon may counteract the effects of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which is why it is one of the best foods that reduce stress. “The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon may offset the effects of these hormones,” says Shahzadi Devje, RD, CDE, a registered dietitian in Toronto, Canada. “This helps reduce anxiety and improve your response to stress.” This doesn't mean, however, that eating salmon for dinner tonight will halt your stress— it means eating enough of the fish is beneficial in terms of long-term stress management.