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Stress The Unseen Killer
Introducing Stress Management There are very many proven skills that we can use to manage stress. These help us to remain calm and effective in high pressure situations, and help us avoid the problems of long term stress. (Teaser) These skills...
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3 Methods for Clearing Mental Clutter
Many adults with ADD have a hard time slowing down their brains. Thoughts often come at whirlwind speed, and it can be hard to concentrate on the tasks at hand when so many other thoughts are floating around in the brain. I call this "mental...
Preventing Headaches and Reducing their Impact
Whether speaking of migraines, tension-type headaches or other recurring head pains, it's safe to say that the best headache attack is the one you don't have. Even if you have found an effective treatment for resolving a headache that is already...
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4 Steps to Assertive Communication
“Dr. Fiore,” my 42 year old married patient (Mary) began, “once again my family expects me to host Christmas dinner and I am simply too exhausted; what should I do?”
“Why not tell them how you feel?” I asked.
“Because I don’t want to hurt...
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Dieting Your Way to Stress Management
You may notice that you reach for the potato chips when a
television program becomes particularly frightening. Or you grab
the crackers at work when you learn that you'll have to handle a
new project. You may also nibble on candy bars when you're
having difficulty controlling your children. These eating
patterns are all a reaction to stress.
Stress plays an important part in our daily diet. In fact, a
great deal of overeating has been attributed to stress. However,
it is also true that your diet can have an impact on stress.
There are certain foods that tend to worsen our stress levels. A
number of these foods fall into the category of stimulants.
Of course, the best-known stimulant is caffeine. You'll find it
not only in coffee, but in soft drinks, tea, and chocolate. Your
heart beat races, as does your mind, when you are served a
significant amount of caffeine. Caffeine consumption may even be
connected to high blood pressure. However, you might not want to
cut out caffeine entirely all at once. A gradual reduction will
help lessen your withdrawal symptoms.
Consuming alcohol can also increase your stress level. It leads
to the production of adrenaline, which can cause you to have
difficulty sleeping. You might also experience a feeling of
tension as a result of your alcohol intake. In addition, alcohol
makes it more difficult for the body to get rid of toxins.
Smoking is also quite dangerous, increasing hypertension and
leading to heart disease.
Chances are you will experience a great deal of stress after
eating sugar. This is because this sweet substance can exhaust
the adrenal glands, leading to depression and irritability.
While some people tend to reach for sugar cookies when they are
feeling stressed, the irony is that sugar-filled snacks can
actually make you feel even more stressed out.
Salt and fat are two substances that can increase your stress
level. Salt, for instance, raises the blood pressure, causing an
individual to feel as if his or her emotions are out of control.
As a result, you should not eat high-salt foods such as ham or
sausage. Meanwhile,
consuming fat can put strain on the
cardiovascular system, leading to more stress. In general, you
should avoid highly processed food, which tends to be sparse in
nutritional value.
If you want to get your stress level under control, consider a
diet that is rich in whole foods, fruits, and vegetables. These
are natural stress-busters, filled with nutrients that will help
you to feel good over the long run. Also, these foods are far
less likely to result in weight gain--another significant cause
of stress. Some dieticians recommend eating a diet that is 65 to
70 percent raw in order to ensure that you receive the maximum
amount of nutrients--nutrients which could be otherwise lost
during the cooking process.
How do you know if your diet is stressing you out? Pay close
attention to the warning signs. For instance, do you get
headaches right after eating? Are you experiencing neck or back
pain? Do you feel irritable after dinner? Do you feel anxious
for no reason? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions,
you could be dealing with food-induced stress. As you attempt to
combat that stress, you should also make sure that you get at
least seven hours of sleep each night in order to ensure that
you are well-rested. Being tired can contribute significantly to
your stress level.
There is no question that eating right can reduce your stress.
Indulging in caffeine-filled drinks or fatty foods can simply
make you hyper, unable to relax or to concentrate. However, if
you eat meals that are rich in vitamins and minerals, you could
find your stress level significantly reduced. Plan your meals
ahead of time to ensure that you receive the maximum nutrition.
Be sure to eat slowly and deliberately--feeling rushed at
mealtime can contribute to your stress level. The good news is
diet is a stressor you can easily control. By following a few
common sense techniques, you can ensure that you are eating a
diet which will greatly reduce your stress.
About the author:
newkerala.com is a top online newspaper published from India
since '2005. Visit http://www.newkerala.com for latest news and
information.
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