Stress is an unavoidable consequence of living. If you haven’t been stressed your entire life, then maybe you haven’t even lived at all. So dealing with it is the most one can do, as it is already an inevitable part of being human. There are a lot of ways to de-stress, and each individual is different in reacting to it. Some people find that quite time is a perfect way to unwind, while some can find it more stressful than relaxing, thus going out and seeking the familiar noise of life. Others find calm in organization, while others thrive in chaos. Those just show how each of us cope differently to the same situations.

Personally, one of the things that take away my stress is food. Yes. Food. What I eat largely affects what I am feeling at one point in time, so when I feel stressed, I make it a point to eat what I like to think as relaxing food (at least for me). Here are my top picks to help me de-stress, food right out of my kitchen so there’s no need for stressing (again!) about where I can get it:

Milk. Like a little child, I feel comforted when I drink milk. So this is my surefire and quick way of releasing stress build-up. A glass of milk for those times when I feel like hyperventilating. Like right now. LOL. The protein in milk, I found out, reduces anxiety, frustration and muscle tension.

Tuna. Just open a canned one. The Omega-3 fatty acids in tuna is not only good for the heart, it is also a good food to keep your adrenaline in check.

Avocado. There is really no end to my favorite fruit’s awesomeness. The monounsaturated fat and potassium in avocado helps lower blood pressure. Also makes the brain react faster to mood-enhancing serotonin.

Sweet Potatoes. This might just be my all-time favorite vegetable. The Vitamin B6 content of this veggie will help give you a major dose of relaxation. So yes, a stick of kamote cue (deep fried sweet potatoes with a coating of heavenly caramelized brown sugar) might just be your perfect stress-buster.

There’s a lot more food that can help combat stress, but these are the most accessible (at least for me). What about you? How do you de-stress?