JAKARTA - Stress is an unavoidable part of everyday life. Whether it's because of piling up work, personal problems, or social pressure, we've all felt it.
However, there are easy and natural ways to relieve stress, and one of them is by consuming a calming drink. In addition to helping calm the mind, some drinks also provide physical effects that can reduce body tension.
Carolina Schneider, a nutritionist and dietitian, revealed some of the main ingredients that must be in drinks that help calm. Drinks rich in magnesium and ashwagandha (Indian ginseng) can relieve stress. Ashwagandha helps lower cortisol levels while supporting gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors.
"Low magnesium levels are associated with increased stress. Magnesium helps reduce stress," said Schneider, quoted by VOI from the Real Simple page on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
Other ingredients that can help you relax include L-theanine and vitamin B. Before buying a drink product, be sure to check the back label. You can look at the key ingredients to avoid products that claim to be a cure-all.
"The supermarket is filled with adaptogenic, nootropic and botanical drinks that claim to reduce stress, but these big promises are often not supported by scientific evidence," says Schneider.
Here are five drinks that can help relieve stress.
1. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is often cited as the most popular non-caffeinated drink, but Schneider says chamomile tea is also a great stress reliever.
"Chamomile tea contains apigenin, an antioxidant that binds to receptors in the brain, which can promote relaxation," she says.
So when you come home from a stressful day, brew a cup of this herbal tea to calm your mind.
2. Green Tea
Green tea is a mild caffeine drink, but it's great for helping you relax.
"Green tea, including matcha, contains L-theanine, an amino acid known for its ability to induce relaxation without making you sleepy," says Schneider.
"L-theanine increases alpha brain waves, which are associated with a calm and alert state. It also helps reduce the perception of stress," she continues.
3. Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is not only a great drink for the winter, it can also help calm you down. The cocoa in hot chocolate often contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that produces serotonin and melatonin.
In addition to its delicious taste and calming properties, hot drinks like hot chocolate also have a calming effect on the psychological side, due to the sensation of drinking something warm.
4. Cherry Juice
Cherry juice contains melatonin (from tart cherries), tryptophan, and procyanidin B-2, which can help reduce oxidative stress, promote relaxation, and improve your sleep quality.
5. Warm Milk
Warm milk can help calm you down after a long, stressful day. Milk contains ingredients that can promote relaxation, such as tryptophan, melatonin, lactose, vitamin B, and magnesium. Serving warm milk is also very easy to do.
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