SUMMARY
· Stress may lead to headaches, insomnia and even loss of energy.
· The food that you take may help reduce stress or worsen it.
· Fruits, seeds and leafy green vegetables help to reduce stress.
At one point or the other in life, we usually find ourselves saying that we are stressed. Stress is a state of mental or emotional or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. Some of the things that may stress us in life include fear of losing a job or ending a relationship, fear of getting punished or failing exams. The latter usually affects a majority of students because they know that is what will determine the next step they are going to take in their academic journey.
Stress usually causes some chemical reactions in our bodies which alter our normal way of behaving causing us to behave in a different way that we may not even understand. Stress has made some people commit suicide while others have made rash decisions which have ended costing them later.
When you are stressed, your diet may also contribute one or two things to your stress. That is to mean it may help your situation or even worsen it further.
Some of the common signs of stress include a headache, insomnia, loss of sexual desire, stomachaches and diarrhea.
Nutritionists argue that if you take healthy food, it may help your mood and reduce your stress level but if you take junk it will only act as a temporary solution to what is stressing you.
''It is not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it." – Hans Selye
The following are some of the foods that may help reduce your stress level:
1. Green Leafy Vegetables
Examples of dark green leafy vegetables are kales, collard green, turnips, cabbages and broccoli. Such vegetables are rich in folate which is a type of Vitamin B essential for cell growth and reproduction which helps your body produce mood-regulating transmitters. A study done by students from the University of Otago in 2012 found that people who consume more folate have a lower risk of getting depression and those who consume less folate have a higher risk of being depressed.
2. Turkey breast
Turkey is a good source of an amino acid called tryptophan which the body converts to serotonin. Serotonin reduces the quarrelsome behavior, helps people to be in a stable mood and have a healthy sleep hence reducing stress.
3. Avocados
Avocados provide almost all the important nutrients that our bodies need such as potassium, vitamin B and folate. These important nutrients help in regulating the body sugar levels which helps in keeping the mood steady even in times of stress.
4. Blueberries
The pigments of blueberries have an antioxidant called anthocyanin. This antioxidant helps the brain in the production of a chemical which is vital in coordination, memory functioning and controlling of moods which helps in reducing stress.
5. Seeds
Seeds such as pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds are excellent sources of magnesium which act as a precursor for neurotransmitters like serotonin which is well known for its role of helping to regulate emotions and enhancing good mood and well- being.
Comments