A Look At The Connection Between Stress And Diet

There have been a number of studies into the benefits of good nutrition and, like many things in life, these studies often contradict one another leaving us to ponder where the truth actually lies. In general however there is agreement that a healthy and balanced diet plays an important role in reducing levels of stress.

It is also normally agreed that, where a diet is not particularly well balanced, the use of supplements can be helpful. As an example, serotonin is a chemical produced in the brain which aids in inducing calm and, in the case of a poor diet, taking a supplement which helps the brain to produce serotonin will assist the body in combating stress.

Timing is however also important and, as serotonin levels are normally naturally higher in the morning and lower 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 aid the body's production of serotonin. Try some pretzels or a baked potato, both of which are healthy and low in fat.

For some individuals excessive eating, especially of high fat foods, is the answer to stress. However, high fat foods tend to slow down or inhibit serotonin levels and so usually have just the opposite effect to the one you want.

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

Eating sensibly and exercising will have the double benefits of both reducing the production of stress-inducing chemicals by 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 look out for is the habit many of us have of skipping meals. When you are stressed you will frequently find that this lowers your appetite and it is very easy to begin skipping meals. Whether you are stressed or not, set yourself a regular routine when it comes to mealtimes and then stick to it.

In addition, try to make mealtimes a 'break' in your day and leave your problems to one side while you are eating. Use this as time, specifically set aside for relaxation and for focusing your attention on the good things of life. You will almost certainly find that when you get up from your meal the world will be much calmer.

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