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

Dark chocolate

Most people would probably agree that chocolate is one of their favorite foods that reduce stress. Just unwrapping a piece of dark chocolate could put a smile on your face, but some research suggests that eating it may enhance those feel-good effects. “Growing evidence suggests that the antioxidants in cocoa help relax blood vessels, helping to lower blood pressure and boost circulation,” Devje says. One 2017 study found that 20 g per day of dark chocolate could have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health.