Relieving stress, especially the everyday stress, is not so hard to do. In fact, there are so many things that we can do to minimize stress. For instance, eating a well-balanced diet and regular exercise can do so much. However, getting proper nutrition is actually not easy to achieve.
With the many suggestions on what is the better diet, people become confused as to what is really the right diet for them. One diet contradicts another. More and more studies are being introduced, which makes it harder for people to understand which diet fits them.
The truth is that one diet may work for you, but the same diet may not work for others. Your food intake should be based on your body needs and the physical activities you engage yourself in every day. However, proper diet still involves adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables. Eating the right amount of protein is also an aid in reducing stress.
Dietary Supplements for Stress
Diet supplements are also available in the market. You need to choose the right supplement for you, especially if your diet does not provide you the necessary amounts of nutrients that can help you cope with stress.
Serotonin is a brain chemical that induces relaxation. To boost its production, you have to add to your diet food or supplements containing ingredients that aid in the production of this chemical. When you have more than enough serotonin, it will then help you fight stress.
This is the same reason there are vitamins for coping with stress. It takes about 30 minutes before a supplement works. However, the effects could last up to three hours. Therefore, it is important to know when the best time is to make use of the supplement.
It is in the morning that serotonin level is significantly high, while it decreases during the afternoon. With this information, you now have an idea how to plan your diet.
Having an afternoon snack can help you increase your serotonin level. You can grab a bite or two of baked potato chips to help stimulate serotonin production during this time of the day. Pretzels are also a good snack to help boost serotonin. It is low in fat and a very healthy snack.
Improper Diet can Significantly Affect Stress
Many people tend to stuff themselves with foods that are particularly high in fat, thinking that it can help them minimize the symptoms of stress. This is, however, a misconception. Recent studies say that eating foods that are high in fat only slows down the production of serotonin.
Eating in moderation should also be a part of one’s discipline.
This is the same with the idea that not enough exercise leads to poor health.
Now, if you increase your calorie intake, it could make your condition worse. You will eventually become overweight. Your looks will suffer and, in the long run, you will develop low self-confidence. This will lead to stress. At times, this stress can lead to depression.
To stop this from happening, you need to discipline yourself to follow a well-balanced diet to become fit. More so, to avoid being ridiculed because of the way you look.
Instead of just sulking in one corner, why not do something about it?
Eat just the right amount of food that your body needs. Choose foods that could also help you combat stress. This is an investment that you can give yourself to contribute to your well-being.
Do not Miss a Meal
Eating regularly is healthy eating. Observe people who are under stress. They often skip meals. This is not necessarily their own choice. Stress greatly affects appetite.
If stress is work related, often individuals miss lunch because they have to meet a deadline. There are too many important things to do, more important than eating lunch, or so they thought.
One needs to break this terrible habit by practising healthy living.
Because stress suppresses appetite, it is important to avoid thinking of sad things during meals. As much as possible, concentrate on the positive things in your life. You deserve to enjoy a life that is stress-free.