Stress is a condition that makes us jittery, unrefreshed, and unable to sleep at night. Stress also tends to allow us to make poor, unhealthy food choices. However, healthy eating can actually reduce stress, and make you feel so much better. Here are a number of helpful hints for fighting stress, through healthy eating.
Skip The Coffee And Other Caffeinated Drinks
Coffee, caffeinated drinks and beverages can exacerbate your stress levels. While some only provide temporary relief, these affect your body in the long run, because too much sugar and caffeine increases your blood sugar levels, and also heightens your stress levels. Instead of coffee, drink green tea, since green tea contains high levels of antioxidants, and also soothes the senses.
Carry Healthy Snacks At All Times
Replace chips and other unhealthy, sodium-filled snacks with natural snack food items, and go for sunflower seeds, celery sticks and carrot sticks instead. Also bring along with you protein-rich snacks in your bag or car, to reduce fatigue and to help avoid mood swings or anxiety attacks.
Eat Breakfast, And Bring your Lunch To Work
Never go to work or school on an empty stomach. Even if you think you're not hungry, you'll need to eat something later on. Eating a healthy breakfast helps to maintain the proper blood sugar levels during the rest of the day. It would also be nice if you bring your lunch to work or school. You'll actually save a lot of money by bringing your lunch to work, and you'll also be able to eat healthier food, instead of munch on the usual fried stuff found at the fast food joint or cafeteria.
Eat Lots of Fruits And Vegetables
Eating large amounts of fruits and vegetables can help fight stress. Fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of antioxidants and minerals that help ward off harmful free radical damage, which is believed to increase during stress or panic attacks. Remember to choose brightly-colored fruits and veggies.
Drink More Water
To reduce stress, drink at least eight glasses of water each day. Drinking more fluids helps flush away stress-producing toxins from the body, and also helps to keep you energized. If you drink less water, your body gets thrown out of balance, and you may suffer unexplained weight gain, fluid retention, or loss of thirst, which can exacerbate any stressful situation.
Diet plays a major role in the fight against stress, therefore it's important that you take everything you eat into consideration. Always make sure that you eat a balanced and healthy diet, and stay away from cholesterol-rich foods and saturated fats, since these tend to block the arteries with plaque. Regular exercise also helps to relieve stress. Exercise actually releases endorphins that elevate the mood, and provides an instant energy boost. Exercise also allows the body, and the mind, to relax and repair itself.
