Less Stressed Eating

We've all heard the old adage, “you are what you eat,” and I'm here to tell you “you feel what you eat.” Yes it's true, there are certain foods that make a person more susceptible to stress and there are certain foods that can actually help reduce stress.

Beware of “Comfort Carbs”
An August, 2004 Shape Magazine article by nutritionist Candace Combe states “carbohydrate-rich, processed foods such as cookies, breads and pastas can relax some people, although how this works is a subject of debate.” There is some thinking that when simple carbs are introduced into the body, we get an immediate boost in our blood sugar and a release of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are the brain chemicals that can lift the mood and make us feel euphoric. Endorphins are also released when we exercise. Dr. Eva Selhub, the Medical Director for “Lighten Up,” a stress-reduction program in Chestnut Hill, Mass, states “the effect could just as easily be due to changes in blood sugar and at any rate, it is short-lived.”

Diets high in carbohydrates cause an immediate boost to the blood sugar, giving immediate feelings of energy. However, just as fast as those feelings come, they are also gone, causing mood swings of energy and fatigue.

Better Stress Reducing Foods
Good fats like omega-3s are associated with a reduction in abdominal fat. These goods fats, often found in fish, can reduce the stress hormone, epinephrine. Other foods associated with good fats that can lower cortisol levels, cholesterol and stress are: fish such as sardines, salmon, herring and mackerel, flaxseed, lean protein such as chicken and turkey breast, olives, peanuts and canola oils, walnuts, pecans, almonds, pine nuts, cashews, soy and wheat germ. Many grocery stores now carry several of these food items in the “healthy foods” section of the store.

Take time for less stress eating all year through.