Stressed? One Easy Way to Build Your Defense

Magnesium is a trace mineral involved in numerous processes in your body, including how well you deal with stress. Under conditions of mental or physical stress, magnesium is released from your blood cells and goes into the blood plasma to calm things down (Magnesium acts as a smooth muscle relaxer).

In other words, the more stressed you are, the more magnesium your body requires.

And if you aren’t regularly replenishing those magnesium stores through your diet (which chances are you aren’t—according to estimations, 60% of individuals do not get enough magnesium) then it becomes harder to cope with stress.

So, if you often find yourself stressed out, consider adding more magnesium to your diet. Some of the best food sources are green vegetables (like broccoli, spinach, Swiss chard), legumes (like navy beans, kidney beans, and black-eyed peas), and nuts (like almonds, Brazil nuts, and cashews).

All of those mineral rich foods are ‘regulars’ in my weekly meal plan. One of my favorite mineral rich recipes is Almond Paté (recipe follows). This protein-packed refrigerator staple is delicious way to get your magnesium and when you eat it with raw vegetables, you can also crunch your stress away!

**If you’d like to learn more easy ways to build your defense against stress, join me in Santa Cruz this Saturday, July 14th from 10 am to noon for Stress Stinks! Simple nutrition and exercise techniques for less stress. To learn more and to register, click here.

Almond Paté

Makes about 2 cups

1 cup raw almonds, soaked overnight

2 stalks celery, minced

1/2 cup tahini

1/2 cup minced parsley

2-3 scallions, minced

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 Tablespoon kelp granules

1 Tablespoon tamari

Drain and rinse almonds, removing any skins that have come off. Put the almonds in a food processor and pulse until well blended.  Add celery, tahini, parsley, scallions, lemon juice, kelp, tamari and puree thoroughly, adding a little water if needed to achieve creamy consistency. Taste and season as needed. This paté keeps for several days in a covered container in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!
~Chef Jenny

Hungry for more?

​Enter your email below to get my free updates & recipes and I will send you a free online cooking class showing you 'Three Ways to Make Vegetables Taste More Delicious!"