Can food help in Stress Reduction?

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Food – The best and worst medicine for stress

It has been proved that the major health disorder in the United States in stress. A balanced nutritious food and simple deep breathing exercises are the simplest methods for stress relief. This article discusses the following aspects:

How can food tackle stress?
How tea, coffee, etc affects a person who is having stress?
Can chocolates help in stress reduction?

Researches show that stress is the most common health disorder in the United States. There are various options available for the relief of stress. A balanced nutritious food and simple deep breathing exercises are the simplest methods for stress relief. They are cost effective, easily available and are without side effects. Food that reduces stress acts mainly by their vitamins and mineral contents.

Food and Stress Relief

The changes associated with stress are

Increase in the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol
Increase in blood sugar and cholesterol
Increase in the heart rate and blood pressure
Increase in the respiration
Accumulation of toxins like carbon dioxide and lactates
Emotional changes due to alteration in the brain chemistry
Gastro intestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome
Suppression of immunity

The principle of stress management programs is to reverse all these changes. Among these changes the levels of the already increased hormones cannot be brought down. The stimulus which increases their production can be controlled. All the other changes can be reversed using various stress relief options. One of the simplest options is the dietary changes. Avoid over working in kitchen for dinner parties, Caviar, hamper or family favorites, yet you can turn an ordinary meal into a culinary work of art. You can do that by exploring new exotic cuisine.

The role of food items in the stress management programs are discussed under the following headings

Food items that reduces stress which should be included
Foods items that aggravates stress which should be avoid

Food Items to be Avoided

Food items which aggravate the signs and symptoms are to be avoided. These include

Tea, coffee, cocoa
Junk foods and fast foods
Egg yolks
Butter, cheese , shrimps and meat
Coconut oil
Cashews almonds and other nuts
Beverages including soda, chocolate drinks and soft drinks.
Sugar
Alcohol

Tea, coffee, cocoa including chocolate drinks contain neuro stimulators like, caffeine and Theo bromine. Though these substances refresh a tired person, it is better to avoid all these items in stress. In stress the patients will be already anxious and further stimulation results in aggravation of anxiety and worsen sleeplessness. Moreover tea and coffee worsens peptic ulcer associated with stress. But the controversy is that chocolates contain more of magnesium which helps in calming down an agitated person during stress.

Egg yolks contain high percentage of cholesterol and should be avoided in stress which itself increase the cholesterol levels. Butter, cheese, coconut oil cashews, almonds and meat are to be avoided for similar reasons.

Junk foods and fast foods are highly delicious food items are not balanced diets. They contain protein, fats and carbohydrates in inappropriate proportions and moreover they don't contain the essential vitamins and minerals. Stress needs more of energy, vitamins and minerals also but in a balanced proportion.

Beverages including soda and soft drinks contain 'empty calories' which are useless and they also don't contain vitamins and minerals. In stress there is accumulation of carbon dioxide and lactates resulting in a condition called acidosis which is detrimental to health. The high content of carbon dioxide in beverages aggravates it. Sodium benzoate is also more in beverages which should be avoided in hypertension associated with stress. Sugar should be avoided in stress as the person will be already having increased blood glucose levels with a higher risk of getting diabetes.

However, shopping and gifting can help reduce stress of both the donor and the receiver, for example, Christmas hampers, and other stationery.

Continue to: Food Items to be Included

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