It seems like the words “holiday” and “stress” go hand in hand. While most of us wish this weren’t the case, it’s hard to relax when we have shopping, cooking, guests, family, Christmas cards and parties to navigate. Next thing you know, you can’t seem to avoid that delicious sweets table, or the next, and the holiday pounds are your newest gift from Santa Claus. Luckily there are a plethora of foods within your reach that you can use to combat the stress and extra calories during the holiday season!
1. Dark Chocolate
Before you head to the store to stock up on your favorite candy bar, remember that size and brand matters. Be sure you are eating dark chocolate that is at least 70% cacao to get the full benefits. Also, your portion should be approximately the size of a silver dollar to avoid excess calories due to overconsumption. So why exactly does dark chocolate help relieve stress and prevent weight gain? When we are stressed, our body releases hormones that raise our blood pressure to help us combat what is stressing us. Dark chocolate works to lower the hormones that can cause high blood pressure because of stress and anxiety. Dark chocolate is also filling and will hopefully prevent you from continuing to eat junk after you are full.
If you need help picking a dark chocolate, visit HealthyEater.com to review the best and healthiest options.
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Karly Wood
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