Reducing stress through nutrition
The natural mechanism in your body ensures that you eat less under stress. That is not the case with everyone. During stressful periods, some people often reach for easy foods such as snacks and sweets. While these foods can actually make you feel lethargic and make it harder for you to deal with stress.
The food that you can best eat in case of stress is a low-fat, fiber-rich and carbohydrate-rich food with lots of vegetables and fruit. This food soothes without decreasing energy and gives you the nutrients you need to strengthen the immune system. We list the foods that are best taken in stressful situations and foods that you should not take.
Do eat:
High-fibre, carbohydrate-rich foods
Various studies have shown that carbohydrates cause the brain to produce more serotonin, this hormone ensures that people relax. Examples of healthy foods for stress include potatoes, legumes and rice.
Vegetables and fruit
Stress can cause your body to have less energy to fight off illness. Eating more fruits and vegetables, which are high in antioxidants, can boost your immune system. Carrots, for example, are an excellent source of the antioxidant beta-carotene. And citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, another stress-fighting antioxidant.
Avoid
High-fat foods such as ground beef and cheese dishes and many baked goods can make you feel tired and listless. So it is better to leave this one if you are stressed.
Caffeine
Many people turn to products such as energy drinks, coffee and cola when they have had poor sleep due to stress. The caffeine in these products stays in the body longer than most people think. Using less caffeine can actually help reduce both sleep problems and nervousness.
Sugar
This is a carbohydrate and should therefore calm us down. The problem with sugar is that blood sugar rises and falls quickly. This gives you extra energy for a short time, but this is over very quickly. It is therefore best to take fiber-rich carbohydrates, such as potatoes, whole wheat pasta, beans and lentils.
Bottom Line: When you’re in a stressful situation, just try to eat healthy and avoid using ‘supposedly’ stimulant products. These products can only give an opposite reaction and that is the last thing you can use at that moment.
Make sure you eat enough. When you are hungry, you can concentrate less well. Eat three meals a day and three healthy snacks such as fruit, raw vegetables, a boiled egg, a currant bun or a sandwich. Try to really sit down for your meals and make this a moment of relaxation right away.
