iMag Slide Show

iMag spoke to Joel Marion, Embassy Suites Hotels' BusinessBalance.com expert to find out what snacks to have on hand for tough work days.

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, nutrients that fight off free radicals and oxidative stress. In fact, when it comes to oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC rating), blueberries have one of the highest ORAC scores of any fruit or vegetable. Decreasing oxidative stress and the presence of free radicals is a great health measure to take in order to decrease overall physical stress over the long term.

You know the saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. This is especially true when speaking of stress related issues. The high fiber content of apples help sooth the digestive track and ease digestive stress. Additionally, the simple act of biting into a crisp apple and chewing can help relieve anxiety and improve alertness. Try the honey crisp variety of apples for a sweet, exceptionally crispy snack.

The amino acid tryptophan has been scientifically proven to have a relaxing effect on the mind and the body. Snacking on foods high in tryptophan, such as sliced chicken breast, increases blood levels of the "relaxation" hormones serotonin and melatonin, yielding the calming, relaxing effect mentioned above.

Nuts — a snack with a great balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat, make for an ideal between-meal snack as they help keep blood sugar steady and stable between feedings. Fat and protein slow down carbohydrate digestion which in turn causes a steady, stable influx of sugar and energy to be released into the blood. Ultimately, keeping blood sugar stable and steady between meals will lead to increased alertness and decreased irritability.

Broccoli and other green vegetables are rich in magnesium, a micronutrient which has been deemed the leading stress-busting mineral. Magnesium deficiency has been correlated to high stress levels repeatedly in stress-related research, so it's important to make sure you get adequate amounts of this nutrient. If the idea of snacking on raw broccoli isn't particularly appealing to you, try dipping your green veggies in a very low-calorie snack dip for added flavor.