Fitness Book

Sound familiar? The best solution is to minimize stress, or to manage the stressor. But that’s not always possible. If not, a change in diet may help you cope better.

Ever notice that it’s when you’re feeling depressed or stressed that you pour that extra glass of wine? Or reach for the chips or ice cream? But these things actually exacerbate the problem we are seeking relief from. Here are the most common nutrition mistakes we make when we are under stress.

DON’T…

• Pour yourself a glass of wine – Studies indicate that people drink alcohol to combat stress primarily in the absence of social support. The more severe and chronic the stressor, the more we tend to drink. But as the research points out, alcohol actually gets the body’s stress response going.
• Eat candy – Sugars actually cause the body to get stressed out. Ever notice how you crash twenty minutes after eating it? High blood-sugar levels lead to insulin resistance and bring on that crash – you feel tired, depressed, and unsteady.
• Brew coffee or black tea – Caffeine kick starts your metabolism and releases stress hormones like adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and blood pressure. These hormones puts the nervous system on hyper-alert, increasing your feeling of stress.
• Eat ice cream, donuts, pie, or fatty comfort foods – By eating the wrong kind of fat you will only further stress out your body.

DO…

• Eat foods high in B vitamins – B vitamins help regulate the metabolic function. You can find them in foods such as bananas, fish, whole-grain cereals, rice, nuts, milk, eggs, baked potatoes, chicken, and avocados, and dark green leafy veggies.
• Drink lots of water – Water keeps your whole system moving. Dehydration has been linked to depression, so fight off those blues and hydrate!
• Take a multivitamin – Make sure your body has the resources it needs when stressed. Your body will be depleting these nutrients, and unless you can eat a fully balanced diet, supplementation can help you feel strong enough to face your stressors head-on.

In short, when you are stressed, take care of yourself. As you’ve seen, none of the quick fixes work in the short or long term. Instead, offer your body the essential ingredients it needs to get through the rough times. And, don’t forget to exercise because that too can help you find a balance in your life.

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