A Look At The Connection Between Stress And Diet

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In the past few years there have been numerous studies looking at the benefits of good nutrition and, like most things in life, these studies more often than not contradict one another leaving us to wonder where the truth really lies. Generally speaking however there is agreement that a balanced and healthy diet does have an important role to play in reducing levels of stress.

There is also general agreement that, where a diet is not very well balanced, the use of supplements can be helpful. For example, serotonin is a chemical produced in the brain which can induce calm and, in the case of a poor diet, taking a supplement that helps the brain to produce serotonin will assist the body in reducing stress.

However, timing is important and, as serotonin levels are often naturally raised in the morning and reduced in the afternoon, you can help your body by either by taking supplements in the afternoon or by enjoying a late afternoon snack which will help the body's natural production of serotonin. Try a baked potato or some pretzels, both of which are low in fat but healthy.

For a few individuals excessive eating, especially of foods that are high in fat, is the answer to stress. However, food that are high in fat tend to inhibit or slow down serotonin levels and so normally have just the opposite effect to that which you want.

Another result of excessive eating is that of weight gain and, as a growing number of people are discovering today, being overweight is a sure road to stress and even depression. The answer therefore is both a sensible, balanced diet and a fair amount of exercise.

Sensible eating and exercise will have the double benefits of both reducing the production of stress-inducing chemicals within the body and of improving the way you look and feel, which will without doubt raise your mood and provide a sound barrier to stress.

One other thing to watch out for is the habit many of us have of skipping meals. When you find yourself under stress you will frequently find that this depresses your appetite and it is a very matter to begin skipping meals. Whether you are stressed or not, set yourself a regular routine when it comes to mealtimes and stick to it.

In addition, try to make mealtimes into a 'break' in your day and set your problems on one side while you are eating. Use this as time, specifically set aside to relax and to focus your mind on the good things in life. You will assuredly find that when you have finished your meal the world will be a lot calmer.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

For more information about stress, including such things as stress symptoms, and for a wealth of stress articles, please visit Stress-Relief-And-Anxiety-Relievers.com

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