As the world grapples with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are constantly worrying about the health and safety of others and ourselves. Fortunately, our guest editor and my sister, Gwen Seamon previously shared with us that participating in voluntary home quarantine can prevent you from contracting the virus, while also reducing your community’s infection rate!!
However, spending your days solely at home can also be stressful — whether due to the lack of social interaction or the continuous flow of worrying news. Too much stress can take a toll on our well-being, which means it’s crucial to take care of our physical and mental health. A great place to start is in your kitchen, as these superfoods can help you get through these tough times.
Ginger
Living amidst the current pandemic can really heighten your anxiety, so it’s important to pay attention to your digestion. According to women’s magazine Bustle, anxiety can cause digestive issues like heartburn and acid reflux, which can make eating an unpleasant experience. You can treat these stomach troubles by incorporating more ginger into your diet. This superfood treats your digestive system by blocking stomach acid from passing to your esophagus. To help calm your stomach down, you can prepare homemade ginger tea or make them a regular part of your meals.
Salmon
Staying at home means that you’re most likely going to adopt a sedentary lifestyle. From joining Zoom meetings to watching Netflix, sitting or even lying down can cause you to experience a great deal of body pain. Whether it’s served as a main course or part of your salad, eating salmon is an effective (and delicious!) way to soothe your sore body. This is because the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids found in this superfood have anti-inflammatory properties that help alleviate muscle aches.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds have been a favorite superfood in the wellness world for quite some time now, as these tiny seeds are packed with nutritional benefits. Lifestyle and beauty website Pretty Me highlights that this superfood is full of antioxidants and minerals that can help maintain blood sugar levels, get rid of indigestion, and promote bone health. Also, it’s easy to prepare this multitasking ingredient, since all you need to do is soak them in water for about five minutes. From there, you can add chia seeds to a bowl of yogurt, or use them to make muffins!
Berries
Snacking on berries throughout the day is a wonderful way to stay on top of your health, while also managing your stress levels. From blueberries and strawberries, to raspberries and goji berries, these fruits are the perfect snack as they’re full of antioxidants. It’s essential that your body takes in enough antioxidants for it to be detoxified of any impurities. Plus, berries are rich in fiber, which helps support a healthy digestive system.
Dark Chocolate
If you have a sweet tooth, then stock up on dark chocolate to satisfy your cravings. You might be thinking that dark chocolate is unhealthy, but it actually contains a rich amount of antioxidants and flavanols — these help promote a healthy circulation of oxygen to help you breathe better. Moreover, Everyday Health reveals that a new study has found dark chocolate can help decrease cortisol (otherwise known as ‘the stress hormone’) levels. The key here is to ensure that the product doesn’t have added sugars.
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