In this day and age, stress is something that is difficult to avoid. Your physical health and eating can be drastically affected by stress, so it’s important to understand the effects and how you can combat them. By examining and making necessary changes to your high-stress diet you can make sure you’re as prepared as possible for when stressful situations hit.
Stress can lead to poor time management, so it may be helpful to plan ahead when it comes to meals and snacks, and maybe even try out meal prepping. If you’re stressed out and don’t have time to cook healthy and nutritious meals you may find yourself leaning on fast food that is quick and easy, this is where meal prep could help. Stress causes us to seek out comfortable situations, so if you’re feeling stressed you may also find yourself reaching for comfort foods that aren’t necessarily the best for your health. This is what we call a high-stress diet, as you’re not always receiving the correct nutrients and health benefits from comfort food. However, when done right, comfort food will boost serotonin and help you to relax. Just be mindful of what you’re eating and consider opting for a healthy version of some of your favourite comfort snacks.
A lack of sleep can play a big part in feeling stressed, so it’s important to eat a diet that is helpful to your sleeping patterns. Try incorporating foods with high levels of melatonin in them, like nuts, milk, and fatty fish. Stress can lead to immune system problems that can cause insomnia, so it is also important to maintain a diet that boosts your immune system. Lots of fruits and vegetables are good for this, particularly ones that contain high levels of vitamin C.
When trying to meet stressful deadlines for work or other commitments, it is common for people’s bodies to produce more adrenaline, which suppresses their appetite. This is another area where meal prep and planning ahead can help big time. Working overtime may mean you’re searching for that extra kick of energy, and you may look for it in caffeinated drinks. Consuming too much caffeine can increase your levels of anxiety, and makes the stress worse than it already is. Instead, try incorporating more protein into your diet for a more sustainable, slow-burning source of energy.
Incorporating these simple tips into your routine can help manage your diet and stress levels, and make sure you’re healthy and prepared when things start to get a bit chaotic.