Take off your shoes: Relieve stress and anxiety

In the past year, we have all been living under stress and searching for creative solutions to calm ourselves. Dr. Maya Rozman revealed the surprising connection between our diet and stress levels. Beyond the familiar nutritional recommendations, she suggested an additional tip: Take off your shoes. Yes, you read that correctly. It turns out that this simple act has a surprising effect on our mental well-being.

"Why take off your shoes, and what should you eat to combat stress? Unfortunately, we all face plenty of stress here, which also reduces sleep quality. Poor sleep affects our health, brain function, weakens the immune system, and leads to increased cravings and reduced calorie burning. If I had to choose two foods that are most effective in improving mood and sleep quality from all the available options, what would they be? And another interesting tip about bare feet – to improve sleep and reduce stress."

She continued: "Let's start with the tip that’s less related to nutrition – take off your shoes. According to recent studies, if you take off your shoes, at least for half an hour a day, you will improve your sleep quality, reduce your stress levels, improve your posture, strengthen the stabilizing muscles in your legs, and help reduce back pain. It's so simple. Why not give it a try? Especially since lack of sleep also leads to overeating and less healthy nutrition."

And now back to food. "What are the two foods I would choose as the top options for reducing stress and improving sleep? To achieve this, several things need to happen – these foods should contain the precursor to serotonin in the brain, include calcium and magnesium needed for muscle relaxation, and not spike blood sugar levels (which worsens stress and actually reduces sleep)."

"So, I chose raw tahini made from whole sesame seeds – it contains tryptophan, from which serotonin is produced in the brain, as well as B vitamins essential for the immune system, calcium, and magnesium, with a glycemic index of zero. I also chose almonds – they also contain tryptophan, along with a larger amount of calcium and magnesium compared to other seeds and nuts. They, too, have a zero glycemic index. I'm almost sure we all have these two foods at home. So don’t forget to incorporate them into your diet, preferably in the evening."