Fight Holiday Stress With Superfoods

'Tis the season for fun and festivities, but mostly it's the season for coping with holiday stress. From planning Thanksgiving menus to traveling on some of the busiest days of the year, there are countless reasons the holiday season is packed with stress and anxiety, to say nothing of the sugary food.

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The best way to beat — or better yet, prevent — holiday stress is to maintain your health. There's nothing worse than battling a cold while trying to keep up with a schedule packed with work deadlines and holiday parties.

Slice some avocados onto a sandwich for a boost of vitamin B. 

This will keep you alert and awake, while reducing anxiety. 

Click here to see avocado recipes.

Full of potassium, bananas keep you energized. 

Bananas also reduce your blood pressure at the same time. 

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Complex carbohydrates like those found in brown rice and whole-wheat bread raise serotonin levels without the crash that comes with eating simple carbs. 

Plus, they keep you fuller for longer than simple carbs found in candy and soda. 

Click here to see brown rice recipes.

Chocolate produces feel-good serotonin in the brain, leaving you in your happy place.

When you indulge, make sure to go for anti-oxidant-rich dark chocolate. Moderation is the key to feeling good without the overeating guilt. 

Click here to see dark chocolate recipes.

The omega-3s in fatty fish like tuna, salmon, and Arctic char lower adrenaline levels in the body. 

This makes it easier to stay calm while, say, shopping on Black Friday. 

Click here to see fish recipes.

Milk is a stress-relieving powerhouse. 

Milk contains vitamin B and tryptophan, which help you calm down and get to sleep.

 Click here to see milk recipes.

Snack on some nuts to stay healthy this year; almonds are a particularly good choice, since they contain vitamins B and E, and cashews, which contain stress-relieving zinc. 

Aim to eat only a few nuts, though, as they're high in calories and fat. 

Click here to see nut recipes.

Oranges, along with all other kinds of citrus fruit, are packed with vitamin C. 

Your vitamin C gets depleted when you're stressed out. Now you understand why you're more susceptible to getting sick when you're busy.

Click here to see orange recipes.

Instead of going for the mashed potatoes at the Thanksgiving table, satisfy your carb cravings with healthier-for-you sweet potatoes this holiday season. 

Those carbs produce serotonin in the body, which leaves you relaxed and ready to clean up a Thanksgiving-size mess. 

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Spinach contains folate, which produces dopamine, a pleasure inducing brain chemical. This will help keep you calm and less stressed.

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Stress can cause your blood sugar to rise and when this happens you'll want to enjoy carbs. Instead of grabbing something with unhealthy empty carbohydrates when you are feeling stressed, you should eat oatmeal. It will keep you satisfied and your blood sugar won't spike.

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The antioxidants found in berries will fight in your defense and help improve your body's response to stress.

Click here for blueberry recipes.

Flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds are a great source of magnesium. This mineral will help regulate emotions so you won't feel as tense. 

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Cashews are a buttery nut that contain 11 percent of your daily recommended value of zinc, an essential mineral that reduces stress. 

Click here for cashew recipes.