42 Calm-Boosting Foods: Eat Your Way to Less Stress

13. Seaweed: The Ocean’s Stress Fighter

Seaweed is often overlooked as a stress-relieving food, but this oceanic powerhouse is packed with essential nutrients that support mental and emotional well-being. One of its standout benefits is its high iodine content, a crucial mineral for thyroid health, which in turn regulates mood, energy levels, and stress response. When iodine levels are too low, the thyroid struggles to function properly, leading to fatigue, brain fog, irritability, and heightened anxiety. Beyond iodine, seaweed is also a fantastic source of magnesium and B vitamins, both of which help support the nervous system and promote relaxation. Magnesium plays a key role in reducing stress by regulating cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone, while B vitamins help in the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which stabilize mood. To incorporate seaweed into your diet, try adding nori sheets to wraps, sprinkling dried seaweed flakes over rice and salads, or making miso soup with wakame or kombu. You can even snack on crispy roasted seaweed for a quick and tasty stress-fighting boost!