In today’s day and age, there’s no denying the fact that avoiding stress is easier said than done. And while it’s okay to have some stress in your life - as there’s no way around it - you must protect against this taking a toll on your mental and physical health and well-being.
There are a variety of things that can lead to an abundance of stress in your life, including things such as your job, your family, your health, and your financial circumstances.
However, there’s something you may be overlooking: Your diet.
If you’re eating unhealthy, assuming that it has nothing to do with stress, you’re making a big mistake. Here are five things you should cut from your diet if you’re concerned about stress getting the best of you in the future.
- Sugar
Sugar makes you feel good when you’re eating it, but that doesn’t last long. And if you’re stressed out as it is, the last thing you want to do is add sugar to your diet.
When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, which helps manage that stress as well as your sugar levels.
However, when your cortisol levels rise, it can result in a variety of health concerns such as headaches, sleep problems, and a weakened immune system.
- Alcohol
Just the same as sugar, you know that an alcoholic beverage is a great way to unwind. But before you pick up that bottle, it’s best that you first consider the impact it could have on your health.
It’s easy to believe that alcohol is a good way to melt away stress, but it can actually have the opposite effect on your body. It increases the production of stress-causing hormones, which only makes things worse on you in the long run.
An alcoholic beverage every now and again is okay, but don’t go overboard. If you do, it could lead to more stress in your life - and that’s what you’re trying to avoid.
- Processed Carbohydrates
Yes, you’ll enjoy the taste when it’s going down, but processed carbs can result in fluctuating blood sugar levels, which can also result in mood swings.
Additionally, processed carbs can increase inflammation in your body, which puts more strain on you and additional stress.
- Caffeine
Just the same as alcohol, it’s easy to believe that caffeine can help control stress. After all, you rely on it to wake you up and help you to deal with all the stress that the day brings.
The problem with caffeine is that it can overstimulate your adrenal glands, which increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Subsequently, you’ll feel a jolt of anxiety and stress.
Coffee is the number one culprit of caffeine, but other foods and beverages with a high concentration include energy drinks, tea, many types of soda, and chocolate.
- Sodium
Are you in the habit of reviewing food and drink labels before you consume them? If so, you know that high levels of sodium are everywhere.
Sodium can cause stress when consumed in large amounts, such as is the case with most processed foods.
Also, sodium increases your blood pressure, which impacts your body’s ability to fight stress.
How to Fight Back Against Stress
At this point, you may have concerns about your diet. You may even realize that you need to change what you eat and drink to improve your health.
Fortunately, when you make changes for the better, you’ll realize that you’re better equipped to deal with stress.
You can also look into alternative methods of fighting stress, such as exercise, massage therapy, and the use of cannabidiol (CBD) supplements.
No matter what you do, don’t let stress linger. If it’s dragging you down and impacting the way you live, as well as your health, make some changes for the better.
