5 FOODS TO AVOID WHEN STRESSED

Work deadlines, screaming kids, messy house, bills to pay, it seems stress is at every corner waiting for us. No matter your circumstances, it’s likely that you experience stress on a regular basis. While some stress can be good, getting stressed too often and staying stressed for too long is detrimental to your health!

When we’re constantly stressed, our body remains in fight-or-flight mode, which triggers a host of responses, including an increase in cortisol levels. And while that’s helpful in situations like facing a grizzly bear, remaining in that stressed-out, fight-or-flight state over a long period of time can lead to health issues ranging from weight gain to increased inflammation (which is the root cause of most diseases) to elevated blood sugar. Chronic stress can also bring on adrenal fatigue.

As if that wasn’t enough, the reality is that it isn’t just our lifestyle or tough situations that cause stress. Certain foods can have the same negative impact on the body. So, if you want to reduce stress levels and decrease your risk of disease, learning how to naturally relieve stress can help—as can steering clear of the following foods:

1.  SUGAR

If you want to reduce stress, sugar is one of the first ingredients that needs to go! When you’re stressed, the body produces more cortisol- a hormone responsible for helping us manage both stress and blood sugar levels. That’s because when you eat sugary foods, blood sugar levels spike, and the body must release more cortisol to balance blood sugar. The problem is that increased cortisol can also cause sleep issues, decreased immune response, headaches, and unhealthy food cravings. When our blood sugar levels rapidly fluctuate, it causes feelings that are similar to stress, including anxiousness and fear.

By eliminating foods that contain refined sugar- like pastries, flavoured yogurt, and soft drink—and eating more whole foods, you’ll keep your blood sugar stable, which means fewer mood swings, reduced stress, and a happier body.

2.  ARTIFICAL SWEETNERS

Sugar is bad enough on its own. But all too often, food products aren’t even sweetened with the real thing—instead, they’re packed with artificial sweeteners.

These can lead to headaches, metabolic disease, and cardiovascular disease. But they can also result in an addiction to sugary foods by retraining your taste buds, causing you to seek out even more sweet (and largely unhealthy) foods.

If that wasn’t bad enough, artificial sweeteners also have side effects that can lead to stress. Aspartame, for example, is found in more than 6,000 foods and drinks and in 500 prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and it causes migraines, mood disorders, and manic episodes. And just like other types of sugar, these artificial sweeteners don’t do your blood sugar any favours. Skip the sugar and fake sweeteners.

3.  PROCESSED CARBOHYDRATES

Processed, refined carbohydrates might taste good to your tongue, but they’re not doing anything for your body. For starters, they have no nutritional value and are actually worthless calories. And they also lead to fluctuating blood sugar levels that can cause you to feel moody and irritable.

Many processed carbs, particularly standard packaged foods, are high in sodium. And aside from making you extra thirsty, that extra sodium causes your body to retain more fluid, which then forces your heart to work harder to keep the blood pumping. It can also increase blood pressure making you feel bloated and generally unwell, which can certainly increase your stress levels.

4.  ALCOHOL

A glass of wine might help you feel more relaxed after an intense day, but have much more than that and you’re likely no getting any of alcohols health benefits and, instead, adding more stress to your life. That’s because drinking alcohol can increase the production of hormones that will leave you feeling anxious and more stressed. It can also increase blood pressure and heart rate and trigger those same stress-like symptoms within the body. Lots of alcoholic drinks are also packed with sugar, which means you’ll be getting a double whammy of stress-causing ingredients—first from the alcohol and then from whatever way-too-sweet mixer is used in your cocktail.

Alcohol also disrupts our sleep, so while you might fall asleep more easily than usual, you won’t get the deep sleep that’s necessary to feel refreshed. The result is a cranky morning after and—you guessed it! —more stress.

5.  EXCESS CAFFINE

If you can’t function without your morning cup of coffee, you don’t need to give up completely. But if you’re regularly drinking several cups each day, you’re likely going to find yourself feeling more stressed than you’d like. Too much caffeine can spell trouble for your adrenal glands by overstimulating the body. And because it stimulates the nervous system, caffeine can cause a rise in blood pressure and heart rate that will ultimately increase feelings of anxiety. In fact, if you suffer from anxiety, one of the first things you should do is cut out caffeine. It’s important to remember that caffeine isn’t found in just coffee. It’s also in soft drinks, certain types of tea, energy drinks, over-the-counter pain relievers, and even chocolate.

While we can’t control all of the stress in our lives, starting with what you can control is key. Take small steps today to make gradual change and see the differences, and how much better you can feel.

After more tips on reducing stress? Then download my free guide now!

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Thanks for hanging out with me, in my little blimp on the web!

I’m Kirsty, A Holistic Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Reiki Master Teacher, and busy mum and wife.

My passion and desire are to help busy women-just like you. Who are stuck in life, not feeling healthy, happy, or confident. To get the heck out of their own way, so they can start living an extraordinary life that lights them up!

Through 1:1 coaching and reiki energy healing I empower, educate, and inspire women to create the life of their dreams, unlock their true potential, and help see how amazing life truly can be.