As much as emotions and circumstances affect our stress levels our diet affects these levels and abilities to cope with it too. Stimulants such as alcohol, sugar and caffeine put a strain on our bodies and should be avoided. Refined (white) and processed foods are low in nutrients and high in additives/preservatives that further strain our system.
Great stress busting foods include oily fish (salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines etc) – all high in essential fats that help reduce inflammation. Since red meat is high in saturated fats, hard to digest and pro-inflammatory we need to limit our intake and instead include lean white meats (e.g. turkey and chicken). Increasing our B vitamins with foods such as fish, eggs, nuts, seeds and whole grains is important since stress depletes these vitamins. Avocados, cottage cheese, bananas and leafy green vegetables are high in nutrients that further help combat anxiety.
Finally, eating 3 meals daily with 2-3 healthy snacks inbetween help keep blood sugar levels constant since low blood sugar is common in people who are stressed.
