 Stress
and Nutrition
Stress Reduction |
Stress Management | Stress Do's & Don'ts |
Exercise & Stress | Stress Q&A
 Dear Dr. Suzy,
Q.
I've heard that eating nutritious food helps reduce your stress level but when I
am feeling stressed out, the first thing I do is reach for junk food. How
can I break that habit? I always feel worse afterward and need all the
energy I can get.
A. Proper nutrition
definitely plays a vital role in creating a healthier, low stress lifestyle. Prolonged stress depletes the body’s stores of
protein, and may produce certain chemicals that lead to the production of cancer
causing free-radicals. Stress can also deplete your body of vital nutrients,
including cancer fighting antioxidants.
How often you eat and how
you combine your meals is just as important as how much you eat. By eating
smaller, more frequent meals and healthy snacks during the day, you will provide
your body with a continuous source of energy and keep your blood sugar at a more
consistent level. Eating a well balanced,
nutritious diet that includes plenty of fresh, whole foods is vital to
maintaining consistent energy levels throughout the day. Conversely, skipping
meals or eating junk food can leave you tired and with less energy to handle
stressful situations.
If you are overstimulated
by stress, you should also pay special attention to your consumption of
caffeine. Your body usually lets you know when you have consumed too much
caffeine. Increased feelings of anxiety, shakiness, insomnia, and even irregular
heartbeats can all be warning signs from your body, telling you that the
temporary energy boost that you may have received was not worth the long term,
energy draining side effects of excessive caffeine consumption.
Your body’s inborn,
innate intelligence is constantly sending you feedback, and providing you with
warning signs and symptoms. Listen to what it is trying to tell you and your
life will be much less stressful. Avoiding excessive consumption of caffeine,
eating properly, breathing deeply, and stretching and exercising regularly
are just a few of the important tools you need for preventing and reducing
the negative effects of stress in your daily life.
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