Just like a vehicle needs proper fuel and maintenance to perform properly, so does the human body. As time passes, abuse and neglect may cause a broad array of issues and eventual breakdown. Stress has the identical impact on the body, over time it causes many different symptoms, which left untreated can result in life-threatening ailments such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Balance
A well-balanced, nutrient rich diet is critical for health and stress reduction. Simple adjustments to your diet now can quickly reduce the effects of anxiety, which in turn will provide you more energy, make you stronger, and more resistant to illness. High fiber foods, such as fresh produce and whole grains, raise serotonin (a mood enhancing hormone) from the mind, obviously reducing the effects of anxiety.
Eat raw fruits and vegetables often. They aren’t only higher in vitamins and minerals than cooked foods; they also contain natural stress reducing chemicals known as flavonoids. Low fat milk and yogurt are recommended since they’re high in magnesium and calcium. Foods high in calcium and magnesium have been shown to decrease stress because both of these nutrients relax muscle fibers.
Remember
Avoid foods and beverages that are full of stimulants like caffeine that tax the immune and nervous system. Chocolate, coffee, and teas should only be used in moderation. Moreover, there are poisonous levels of acid in the majority of soft drinks which rob the body of calcium (one of the natural stress busters). Sugar is another food which may trigger stress since it causes rapid changes in glucose levels. Sugars are hidden in many foods under names such as dextrose and sucrose.
As much as possible avoid packed snacks and meals that contain artificial colors, flavors, additives, and preservatives. These compounds are tough on the body since they’re not known as natural, and so the body reacts defensively to them, straining the immune system. Unfortunately, a lot of foods are loaded with refined sugars, bleached flours, additives, preservatives, and other toxins that may compromise health. Many foods now lack vital nutrients and because of this you might not be getting the nutrition you will need to counteract the effects of stress.
Take into account
More often than not, diet alone isn’t sufficient in fulfilling individual nutritional needs. A excellent multi-vitamin or herbal supplements can help ensure proper nourishment, and because of this help you reduce anxiety. Specifically there are a number of vitamins that are important for stress management. There are a few vitamins which have been shown in studies to greatly prevent or reduce the symptoms of stress.
According to Psychology now, individuals with high levels of vitamin C don’t exhibit the expected signs of physical and mental stress when exposed to extreme psychological stresses. Additionally, the household of B-vitamins strengthens the immune and nervous systems, which enables them to better fight fatigue caused by anxiety. The B vitamin Niacin also helps the body efficiently release energy from carbohydrates, balancing and digesting blood glucose levels that also reduce stress.