It’s insane how quickly we realised that there are only six months left for all this year’s planned projects. Is that even enough time to complete everything?! December is around the corner and we’ll soon wish everyone a happy new year.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves; there are still 183 days left to achieve whatever’s on your radar. So, no need to go into panic mode! We know it’s been tough, but let’s assure you that this too shall pass.
If we did push a few stress buttons just now, we guarantee that what’s up next will set you right back onto cloud 9.
Food!
Not just any type of food, but the ones that help reduce stress and nourish your body.
- Herbal teas: Chamomile tea, for example, provides a soothing effect that relaxes your nerves and untightens the stress knots in your body. However, the feeling of holding and sipping a warm beverage can increase feelings of warmth and calmness too.
- Dark chocolate: Make this your go-to when you have a sweet tooth or crave something sweet. It’s way better than candies and chips with its antioxidant characteristics. 50 to 60 grams daily can help tremendously with anxiety, boost memory and improve blood flow.
- Omega 3: Avos offer omega-3 fatty acids, which prevent and manage many heart diseases. These essential acids are known to reduce stress and anxiety, but also boost concentration and mood. Omega 3 can also be found in fatty fish, flax seeds, chia seeds, olive oil, walnuts, and soybeans.
- Blueberries: Loaded with vitamin C, blueberries help reduce stress hormones in the blood. Its antioxidants fight the extra cholesterol making a person not prone to heart diseases and protecting cardiovascular health. Furthermore, it reduces the risk of diabetes by reducing the pressure in blood vessels and relaxing muscles.
- Garlic: Not for everyone, but a fierce fighter against oxidative stress with vitamin B6, vitamin C, and other minerals like calcium, potassium, iron, and copper.
- Red peppers: Filled with vitamin C, these red bell peppers support adrenal function and balance cortisol. They found that vitamin C improved the ability of the adrenals to adapt to surgical stress and normalised cortisol in some studies, and it reduced anxiety, minimised stress, and improved mood in other studies.
Recipe – Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers with Ground Beef and Brown Rice
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Diet: Halal
Servings: 7
Calories: 262kcal
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2-3 garlic cloves minced
- 500g lean ground beef
- 1½ cup cooked brown rice
- 1 410g can of diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- kosher salt and pepper, to taste
- 7 large bell peppers top and core removed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 190°C and place the peppers cut side up into a baking dish or a rimmed tray.
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Sauté onion until softens, then stir in garlic and cook for about 1 minute more.
- Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, for 5-6 minutes. Stir in cooked brown rice, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, and smoked paprika.
- Cook until sauce is slightly reduced, about 4-5 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Stuff each pepper with beef mixture and bake until peppers are mostly tender. About 10-12 minutes.
- Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 5-7 minutes more. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving. Enjoy!
Hakuna Matata & Bon Appetit!
