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When people think of holidays, they usually think of cranky people, packed malls and the stress to find the perfect gift. There are many ways to help relieve that holiday stress – going to the gym, screaming out loud, shopping, or even eating to fight stress (yes I said it).

Eating the wrong food can take you on the path to tight jeans and not reaching your fitness goals. However, research has shown that there are some foods that can actually help you fight stress, without taking you off of your flat stomach diet.

Three Foods To Help You Beat Holiday Stress.

1) Spinach – Spinach is full of magnesium, a mineral that helps to decrease the effects of stress on your body. Eating about three cups a day of spinach (40% of your daily suggested amount of magnesium) will help to control your blood pressure during stressful events – thus calming you down and avoiding a stressful afternoon.

2) Fish - The more fat in your diet the calmer you are – true, but only if you have Omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have found that an increase in this fatty acid in your diet, helps to calm your nerves and rid yourself of anxiety caused by the holiday season.

3) Oatmeal – Oatmeal is a great source of Vitamin B, which helps to produce serotonin (a neurotransmitter that sends calming signals to your brain). Having an ample supply of Vitamin B and the ability to produce serotonin, leads to the steady calming of your frayed nerves caused by the mall parking lots and long lines. Oatmeal has even more benefits as it is a complex carbohydrate, it fills you up longer as it is digested slower – giving you enough energy to stand in line to get that ‘perfect gift’.

So before heading out to the shops this holiday season, make sure you load up on one of these three foods to help make sure your holiday season is stress free and right on target with your flat stomach diet.

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