Stress Inducing Foods:
1. Refined Sugars - Aside from tasting delicious, refined sugars, provide us with nothing beneficial, especially during periods of stress. When refined sugars are consumed we can experience big fluctuations in blood sugar levels which lend to mood swings, energy lows, irritability, and the inability to cope with stress. While we may want to naturally reach for sugar when we are stressed it’s better to go with naturally sweet foods like yogurt with berries, an apple with cinnamon, or a piece of (high quality 70% + ) dark chocolate!
2. Caffeine - …and all the coffee drinkers are instantly angry with me… I know, but hear me out! Caffeine, in moderation can be fine for many people, one cup of joe a day might be just what the doctor ordered for you, but caffeine also becomes a stress inducer when it it is consumed in large amounts (more than 500ml per day). A higher intake can stimulate the surge of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, which intensifies the physical stress response in the body and can lend to its chronic nature. Also, if you are an anxiety-prone individual or someone who is often always feeling “stressed-out”, caffeine will only serve to perpetuate those symptoms.
What Else Can You Do To Kick Stress In The Butt?
While our diet does play a big role in our ability to deal with stress as well as combat the effects of stress on our bodies, a healthy diet alone will not solve chronic stress.
One of the best ways to kick stress in the butt is targeting it directly at the roots!
If you feel constantly overwhelmed, burdened, and weighed down by the amount of stress in your life (I’ve been there too!) it is so very important to look at what the sources of your stress are and take action. What can be changed? Can you pull back in areas of your life and do less? Can you cut down on commitments? Are you always saying Yes to please others when you really just want to say No? Do you set unrealistic expectations for yourself? I encourage you to honour your health and learn about setting healthy boundaries which is a key component to stress management.
If something cannot be changed about a situation, then changing perspective is always a good start. Our thoughts are powerful and while we may find ourselves overly stressed due to circumstances out of our control, intentional positive thinking is a very real and useful tool for keeping stress levels at bay!
As GorgoGirls we are strong, but we also have our (necessary) limits. Knowing and respecting those limits is essential to our overall health. Let’s always remember to make time for work, play, and rest!