Fresh Guacamole (© Photographer: Graça Victoria | Agency: Dreamstime.com)

These are anxious times with household budgets tightening, unemployment on the rise, and financial markets struggling to stabilize. In response, Real Age has published a list of seven foods believed to reduce anxiety.

Berries of all kinds, guacamole, mixed nuts, oranges, asparagus, chai tea, and dark chocolate made the Real Age list. With each food they provide an explanation as to how these foods reduce stress levels. Healthy amounts of vitamin C, E, B vitamins, and folic acid are all said to having calming effects. How you eat them counts, no hoovering down the berries like candy. Chai tea doesn’t do the job with nutrients, but as a warm aromatic drink it is “a super soother.” (Real Age recommends decaf.)

As for dark chocolate, Real Age says:

Okay, there's nothing in it that relieves stress, but when only chocolate will do, reach for the dark, sultry kind that's at least 70% cocoa. You figure if the antioxidant flavonoids in it are potent enough to fight cancer and heart disease, they've got to be able to temper tension's effects.

If you’d like to try some fantastic Fair Trade, dark chocolate from Theo in Seattle, our favorite chocolate maker, click on either of the following:

Organic Chocolate from Ghana's Cacao (84%)

Organic Chocolate from the Ivory Coast's Cacao (74%)

For an excellent guacamole recipe go to: Super (Guacamole) Bowl Sunday