Question

Give a brief description how eating relate to stress management.

What interventions would you implement involving eating to promote decreased stress?

Answer 1

Stress is the " wear and tear " our minds and bodies experience when attempting to cope with our surroundings. There are 3 steps in stress management techniques. They are changing thinking, behaviour and lifestyle. In lifestyle actions, one of the most important step is eating Healthy diet.

Eating healthy diet is helpful in stress management and interventions by improving brain function ,immune function and circulation, and in reducing blood pressure and toxins from the body. Few of the healthy diet recipes are fatty fish high in omega 3 fatty acids which reduces stress of hormones and fight against heart disease, depression. Other recipes are low fat milk, yogurt, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, avocados, berries and oranges.

It is good to eat little and often during stress. Eating breakfast will start the metabolism of the body and stabilize sugar level, thereby reducing stress. Vitamins useful here are B1,B2,B3,B6,B9,B12 and Vitamin C which is seen in citrus fruits like orange, grapes.

It is good to avoid stress causing foods like sugar, artificial sweeteners, processed carbohydrates, alcohol and excess caffeine. Drinking more water reduces stress.