What To Eat Under Stressful Conditions
We all go through stressful periods.
Either we’re having important exams or just stressful meetings at the office, one thing is for sure: stress has become a part of our daily routine, whether we like it or not.
Having an organized life under these conditions is quite hard: we eat when and what we can, we sleep less and we constantly feel a lack of energy.
However, our diet shouldn’t be another factor to influence our stress level; if we know how to eat, it might even help us face it better.
Here are a few tips that will help you cope better with stress:
- Avoid high calorie foods: many people think that more calories mean more energy, but it’s only a misconception. Actually, it’s the other way around: your body has to work even harder when you give him foods high in calories or fat. Therefore, you’ll feel more tired than you did before eating.
- Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals: foods like green vegetables rich in iron, fruits rich in vitamin B and vitamin C are great when you need to boost your energy level. The best foods from which you can get all of your nutrients are: spinach, whole grains, oatmeal, cereals, eggs, nuts, fish and any type of fruit or vegetable.
- Don’t count only on coffee and energy drinks: these drinks can give you energy, but not for long. It’s best to get your energy from food and sleep. Drinking lots of coffee because you’re not getting enough sleep will diminish its effect. Tea is recommended because it has the ability to lower the level of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood.
- Don’t skip breakfast and don’t eat too late: an unstable study or work program might leave you with no choice but eating late or skipping breakfast. It’s best to avoid it as much as possible, but if you can’t, have light meals in the evening and try to make time for a consistent and healthy breakfast. Also, try not to eat before going to bed, or else you’ll wake up feeling tired because you won’t be able to sleep well with a full tummy.
- Snacking: many people feel like snacking while they’re studying or when they’re at the office working. Fruits or cottage cheese could be a good choice for a snack because they can provide you with lots of nutrients for fewer calories than the usual snacks. Dark chocolate is also good when you feel like having something sweet because it has fewer calories than normal chocolate and lots of antioxidants and lecithin, which is recommended when you have to study a lot.
- Give yourself a break once in a while: enjoying a walk in the park after two hours of steady studying will refresh you and clear your mind. It’s a proven fact that walking or doing any other light physical activity can fight off stress and give you the energy that you need. Another thing that works for me and might also work for you is listening to music.
Following these simple yet effective advice, I believe you will be able to manage stress better, without your body having to suffer from it.
RSS Trackback URL 4. May 2011 (08:52)
Filed under: Nutrition, Tips by Alice in Dietland
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