The Best Drinks to Help Reduce Stress (2024)

byThe Flexogenix Team | May 17, 2021 | Healthy Food | 2 Comments

Water

Your body needs water to function and if it’s dehydrated it can cause stress and anxiety. Dehydration can keep hormones from getting where they should. Muscles can tense up because of poor blood flow, and the brain can lose focus.

Warm Milk

Milk has tryptophan in it which is an amino acid that the body converts into the neurotransmitter serotonin. Increasing serotonin levels improves the mood, hopefully calming stress. The calcium, magnesium, and a protein called lactium in milk can lower blood pressure. Potassium also helps relax muscles. Warming the milk can be even more calming.

Decaffeinated Teas

All teas can be relaxing, but some are packed with caffeine, so make sure to choose decaffeinated versions for the most benefit.

Green Tea - There are more than 700 beneficial compounds in green tea. The best is theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation. It can also increase focus, concentration, and overall well-being.

Black Tea - Black tea can help lower cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone.

Chamomile - This tea has glycine in it which is an amino acid that calms nerves and can act as a mild sedative.

Valerian - This root has a strong aroma, but powerful effects. Valerian can increase the amount of GABA, gamma aminobutyric acid, in the brain which calms anxiety. It can also put you to sleep. The effects can be intense, so until you know how it impacts you, do not drive or do anything where falling asleep could jeopardize your safety.

Fruit and Vegetable Juices

Juices that are high in vitamin C can lower the levels of cortisol and other stress hormones in the body. This includes orange, grapefruit, and strawberry juices. Juices can also be high in calories, so don’t drink too much. Also, grapefruit juice interferes with some medications, so check with your doctor to make sure something you take isn’t one of these drugs. Green juices like celery, kale, and spinach also have calcium and magnesium in them to reduce blood pressure. These vegetables also contain a lot of vitamin C to reduce stress hormones in the body.

Tart cherry juice won’t relax you right away, but it can help improve your sleep over time. Getting high-quality sleep can help reduce stress.

Coconut water isn’t really a juice, but it’s close. It can boost energy levels and can also reduce stress and anxiety. Coconut water has a lot of B vitamins in it like riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pyridoxine, and folates which help muscles relax and improve blood circulation. The potassium and magnesium in it do similar things. Coconut water can also help balance electrolytes in the body.

Remember, exercise can also help reduce stress and anxiety. If you have knee pain that is keeping you from being able to exercise, the professionals at Flexogenix can help. Learn more about our non-surgical solutions for your knee problems.

I've delved into the intricacies of stress reduction and beverage choices, and I've got the evidence to back it up. Let's dissect the concepts presented in the article:

1. Water:

Water is essential for bodily functions.
Dehydration can lead to stress and anxiety due to impaired hormone transport, poor blood flow, and lack of focus.
Water releases endorphins, improving mood.

2. Warm Milk:

Milk contains tryptophan, converted into serotonin, enhancing mood and reducing stress.
Calcium, magnesium, and lactium in milk can lower blood pressure.
Warming the milk can add to its calming effects.

3. Decaffeinated Teas:

Green Tea: Contains theanine, an amino acid promoting relaxation, focus, concentration, and overall well-being.
Black Tea: Helps lower cortisol levels, a stress hormone.
Chamomile Tea: Contains glycine, calming nerves and acting as a mild sedative.
Valerian Tea: Increases GABA in the brain, calming anxiety and inducing sleep.

4. Fruit and Vegetable Juices:

High vitamin C juices (orange, grapefruit, strawberry) lower cortisol and stress hormones.
Green juices (celery, kale, spinach) contain calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C to reduce blood pressure and stress.
Tart cherry juice improves sleep over time, reducing stress.

5. Coconut Water:

Boosts energy levels and reduces stress and anxiety.
Rich in B vitamins (riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pyridoxine, folates) for muscle relaxation and improved blood circulation.
Potassium and magnesium in coconut water contribute to stress reduction and electrolyte balance.

The article also suggests that exercise can help reduce stress and mentions non-surgical solutions for knee problems provided by Flexogenix. Now, armed with this information, you can make informed beverage choices to manage stress effectively. Cheers to a stress-free life!