Understanding The Relationship Between Stress And Diet - By: Don Saunders

Over the years there have been several studies examining the benefits of good nutrition and, as with most things in life, these studies often contradict each other leaving us to wonder where the truth really lies. Generally however there is agreement that a healthy and balanced diet does have an important role to play in reducing levels of stress.

There is also general agreement that, where a diet is not very well balanced, the use of supplements can be helpful. As an example, serotonin is a chemical that is produced in the brain which helps to induce calm and, with a poor diet, taking a supplement that helps the brain to produce serotonin can assist the body to reduce stress.

However, timing is important and, because serotonin levels are normally naturally higher in the morning and reduced in the afternoon, you can assist your body by either by taking supplements in the afternoon or by enjoying a late afternoon snack which will aid the body's natural production of serotonin. Try a baked potato or some pretzels, both of which are healthy and low in fat.

For some individuals excessive eating, especially of high fat foods, is the solution to stress. However, food that are high in fat tend to slow down or inhibit serotonin levels and so often have just the opposite effect to the one you want.

yet another side effect of over-eating is that of weight gain and, as more and more people are discovering nowadays, being overweight is a sure route to stress and even depression. The solution therefore is both a sensible, balanced diet and a reasonable amount of exercise.

Eating sensibly and exercising will have the combined benefits of both reducing the production of stress-inducing chemicals by the body and of improving the way you both feel and look, which will without doubt lift your mood and provide a sound barrier to stress.

Another to watch out for is the habit of skipping meals. When you find yourself under stress you will usually find that this lowers your appetite and it is very easy to start skipping meals. Whether you are stressed or not, set yourself a regular routine for mealtimes and then stick to it.

Also, try to make mealtimes a 'break' in your day and leave your problems to one side while you are enjoying a meal. Use this as a time, specifically set aside for relaxation and for focusing your attention on the good things of life. You will undoubtedly find that when you have finished your meal the world around you will be much calmer.

About the Author

For more information about stress, including such things as stress symptoms, and for a wealth of stress articles, please visit Stress-Relief-And-Anxiety-Relievers.com

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