by Marisue Alsobrook

Introduction: I believe that stress accounts for most of our attitude problems, most of our foul moods, lack of sleep, road rage, and illnesses. We can reduce and elminate much of our stress, through many different behaviors. By changing what we eat, adding regular exercise even in small amounts of time, adding some fun and learning to relax even if just for a few minutes each day, we will live a healthier, safer life.

In my research, I’ve discovered what we eat can improve our lives considerably. Consider the following information and remember: we must put to use what we learn to get the benefits.

How To Use Diet To Reduce Your Stress

The Challenge

You don’t need me to tell you how pervasive stress is in our modern lives. In part, this is due to our chosen life styles and some stress is just unavoidable. LIFE carries with it the envitable stress and challenges, for everyone.

Good News

There is good news! We can improve our lives! The choice is ours; “Who knew?” There are steps we can take, decisions we can make, that will make a dramatic difference in our energy and help us to “feel good” most of the time! One element of our life styles that is likely to be making matters worse, is our diet. We are what we eat, and that’s scarey. What are we putting in our mouths? Do you find yourself eating fast food, making spur of the moment choices when you’re under pressure? Most of us tend to save time by eating food that actually increases our stress and may even fuel an addiction to stress.

Think Positively

Stop! Don’t be discouraged and picture yourself having to eat broccoli every meal. Instead, picture a rainbow. You have a rainbow of choices when it comes to eating. When shopping try substituting the salty, the sweet, the “white” with “color.”

Choose:

• Colorful vegetables, any and all that you like
• Oats
• Nuts
• Beans, dried and fresh
• Fruit, dried, fresh, frozen
• Sweet Potatoes instead of white as often as you can; or white without the unhealthy fat use;
• Oils; Olive, coconut; even nutty ones

Think “no added refined sugar” and shop away! Simply delicious changes and choices are ahead of you! Diet changes can be achieved very easily with a little thought. You may not have to change all of what you eat immediately; every small change will help you feel better. However, if you are experiencing pain and sleep loss, then you might want to consider making more dramatic changes, the sooner the better!

Are you a heart attack waiting to happen? I think it stands to reason that the healthier you eat, the healthier you will live. Less stress is best!

Ask yourself the following Stress Questions:

1. Do you frequently or continuously complain of any of the following?

• Tiredness
• Fatigue
• Exhaustion
• Lethargy & Apathy
• Poor concentration
• Lack of motivation

2. Do you seek relief from the worst effects of stress and regain energy by:

• Eating sugary foods?
• Drinking coffee or tea?
• Smoking a cigarette?
• Do you have a High Stress job?
• Do you have a High Stress Hobby?

3. Do you freqently “crash” on the couch?

If you answered yes to several of these questions, you are probably addicted to stress, and changes in your diet are essential for you.

Basic Stress Chemistry

Whenever we perceive a situation that needs urgent and immediate action, our adrenal glands begin to make adrenalin. Almost immediately, our heart is pounding, our muscles tense, our eyes dilate, our breathing changes, our blood thickens and glucose is pumping like crazy: so much glucose that we could run a mile.

The glucose is produced by breaking down the glycogen that is contained in our muscles and liver. Getting it from our blood is achieved by hormones, produced by the pancreas. These are insulin and glucagon. The insulin, with another chemical, this time from the liver, facilitates the movement to the cells of the body, while glucagon is used to top up the blood sugar levels if these fall too low.

This process of preparing us for “fight or flight” uses up a lot of energy. We might wonder where the extra energy comes from, especially if we were feeling tired immediately before the event to which we are reacting. The answer is that energy is diverted away from the body’s normal functions of maintenance and repair.

Thus, so long as we are feeling stressed, our digestion, rejuvenation and cleansing functions are turned off. No wonder people who are continuously stressed look old before their time.

Chronic Stress

Things are even worse than this for people who suffer from chronic stress. Consider the unnecessary aging involved in the process if the pituitary, the adrenals, the pancreas and the liver pump out chemicals continuously to control blood sugar that we don’t need.

In short, the process wears our bodies out. This Blood Sugar Saga uses up our energy, as our bodies are constantly fueling the stress, leaving little or none left over for normal functions.

Stress Symptoms

• We lose concentration
• Become easily confused
• Make silly mistakes
• Fall asleep after lunch
• Become irritable
• Find it hard to sleep at night
• Don’t want to wake in the morning
• Sweat more than normal
• Suffer from headaches

Sound familiar? Are you turning to stimulants such as:

• tea
• coffee
• cola drinks
• sweets
• cigarettes
• over-stimulating movies, music or sports
• excessive talking, shopping, sleeping, not sleeping
• dangerous hobbies

Those who are not fussy about keeping within the law may seek their buzz from

• amphetamines
• crack
• cocaine
• crime

Then, to make matters worse, the use of stimulants to regain energy tends to lead to a demand for relaxants, such as

• alcohol,
• sleeping pills,
• tranquillizers

Reason tells us that no one can live like this for long without experiencing burn-out. Even during much deserved time off, we find ourselves cramming as though we were studying for a test. Your brain and habits are telling you to “run; rush; hurry; stay up late; party!”

Stress is never far away. Even our vacations are stressful! Are you craving excitement? Do you find that lying on the beach is not enough to provide the buzz that is needed? Do you crash on the weekends, almost feeling sick? Is it remotely possible that stress has become a habit for you?

The Formula for Balance

In order to maximize your energy resources and avoid burning out, follow these guidelines:

• Eat slow-releasing carbohydrates (such as fruit and nuts), but not fast-releasing carbohydrates (such as sugar, white bread, white pasta).
• Check that you are taking in all essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. Get them naturally by eating plenty of fruit, nuts and vegetables. Take supplements, but investigate and choose ones that are easily absorbed - check with your physician or nutritionist if you are unsure.
• Avoid taking stimulants (e.g. coffee and tea) and depressants (e.g. alcohol.)

This doesn’t mean that you can never break these rules – unstressed people can safely eat a few sweets and drink wine, in moderation - but if you are addicted to stress or just badly stressed you should break the old habits. Then, add a few sweet choices with caution and eyes (not mouth) wide open!

When you change to healthy eating, you will find that you are better able to face stressful events. You will then be giving yourself a consistent supply of energy. Adopting this approach both helps to break the cycle of energy-consuming behaviour (the Blood Sugar Saga) and creates energy to overcome the mental habits that result in our reaction to stress in the first place.

Warning

If you give up tea and coffee and other stimulants, sugar and chocolate, and you begin to suffer headaches, loss of concentration, tiredness or nausea, this is evidence enough of addiction. You are suffering withdrawal symptoms. Stick to your plan and these unpleasant side effects will pass. If you prefer, taper off stimulants by cutting down one day at a time. You might feel a little worse in the beginning, but soon, you’ll be buzzing from good, healthy energy.

As always, check with your physician before making major changes to diet, exercise, or taking supplements. Get the green signal from them and then enjoy a new way to eat, feel good, and look bright and healthy!

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