Good, healthy food actually triggers hormones in our bodies that reduce stress. Learn how making simple changes can have a big impact on how you feel every day.
A Little About Stress
Stress is not just a mental side effect of everything that goes wrong all around us. It is also made up of a lot of physical elements, one of which are hormones. Our diet can and does play a critical role in the balance, or imbalance, of our systems. This is why during times of stress it is especially important to have a healthy food plan ready.
I am the first to admit that stress makes me crave french fries, ice cream, and just about anything salty and highly processed. On some days it is really a struggle to limit my sugar and junk food intake. Like, my eye might twitch if I don't get a piece of chocolate or some fatty cheese and crackers preserved with asbestos or whatever nasty chemical the FDA still approves we can ingest. Gak!
After recovering from a long term illness, here is what I learned about the downside of foods that we "stress eat" and how we can all make better choices that will result in greater overall health and lowered stress levels.
How Junk Foods Hurt Us
Highly processed cause our bodies to work over time to filter out toxins
Cravings often lead to feeling even worse afterward because of the toxins foods can contain
Unhealthy foods cause hormonal imbalances in our systems
We can often crave what is actually detrimental (such as sugars and fats)
Unhealthy foods are also bad for our physical health and cause a vast array of risks long term
Can create a psychological crutch instead of healthy coping strategies
How Eating Healthy Foods Reduces Our Stress Levels
Increases serotonin which is needed for sleep, mood regulation, energy, nerve function just to name a few.
Gives our bodies a rest from filtering out toxic contents
Provides the nutrients and vitamins needed for both mental and physical health functions
Creates longer term energy stores that don't just crash and burn
Improves brain and cardiovascular functions
Eating healthy means that you can tailor your food to what your body and mind need, instead of consuming something that is just mass produced for the general public with ingredients that, let's be honest, could be cancer causing and still deemed fit for ingestion (at least in the United States). Maybe you need less salt which contributes to inflammation, or less sugar, or less cholesterol. Be sure to try and keep a steady weight through stressful events as they can cause both unhealthy gain and loss.
Foods to eat during stressful times include: whole grains, fruits, leafy green vegetables, meals prepared at home, foods with no (or minimal) processing, foods lower in sodium, foods lower in bad cholesterols, foods without processed sugars or artificial sweeteners.
There are many posts out there with some easy snack and meal ideas that will make the transition to healthy eating more rewarding. I look forward to hearing what your healthy food choice "go to" is so that we can all learn from each other.
Love and blessings,
Dax
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