When we “overeat” our stress
January is almost gone, our New Year’s intentions list freshly set, and here we are, already struggling with their most renowned obstacle: the spinning wheel of daily stress.
When the symptoms of stress and anxiety become present in our daily lives, it is very normal to become discouraged from our initial resolutions and to disconnect from the difficulties, returning to our old habits automatically.
In addition to this, and as a way of assuaging the unpleasant sensation that stress causes in our bodies, we may turn to certain foods to soothe ourselves.
In other words, we very often end up eating up our stress.
Can food actually worsen the stress symptoms?
The short answer is yes, indeed.
Regardless of the origin of our stress (or anxiety), sustaining certain eating habits over time is, in itself, a significant strain on the body, and can significantly contribute to perpetuating the state of imbalance that we already experience.
The situation is a complex one that operates in a vicious cycle:
We have stress (or anxiety) for "X" reasons.
This leads us to put our eating habits on automatic pilot, guided by the symptoms of stress and the urgent need to appease them.
As a result, our food choices are often not the best ones to bring our bodies back into balance, but rather the opposite—they perpetuate a cycle of "stress/false relief/stress/false relief" that may end up seriously affecting both our physical and mental well-being.
All of this without mentioning Mr. Frustration and Mrs. Guilt, who come visiting us right afterward…
Not only we did not solve anything, but the scenario worsened somehow, didn’t it?
Five foods that heighten our stress and/or anxiety symptoms
It is not a matter of questioning any food per se. The aim is to examine certain foods through the lens of "I want to break free from the spiral of stress."
Under this perspective, the important thing is for us to understand how our body works to meet its physiological needs when it is communicating through the typical stress signals, screaming at the top of its lungs, "I need your attention!”
This is actually where certain foods come into play since, when over-consumed, they can disrupt any attempt of the nervous system to regulate itself.
Apart from specific food sensitivities or allergies…
…there are five food groups that have this "power":
1. Low-quality fats. Excess saturated fat
2. Caffeine and other stimulating drinks
3. Alcohol
4. Excess salt
5. Excess sugar
Nowadays, we are used to thinking of these foods as the "four horsemen of the Apocalypse" (fats, caffeine, alcohol, and salt), plus a fifth one that the fans of Game of Thrones would add: "The Night King" (sugar).
However, as I said at the beginning, it is not a matter of condemning any of them as such, but to understand how they affect our physiology and what role they play in our daily diet.
Inflammation, cortisol and stress
What is the link between these foods and stress/anxiety?
They are all HIGHLY INFLAMMATORY.
Just a minute. Wait a minute.
"What does inflammation have to do with stress/anxiety, if I don't suffer from arthritis, pancreatitis, colitis, dermatitis, rhinitis or any other ‘-itis’ that qualifies as an inflammatory condition?"
It has to do with E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
The overconsumption of these foods triggers an inflammatory response at the cellular level, whose immediate reaction is a call to Cortisol in our adrenal cortex in an attempt to resolve the inflammation triggered.
"...and what does cortisol have to do with inflammation?"
Many of us eventually ended up at the doctor's with an acute inflammatory process, didn't we? Otitis, laryngitis, finger slashed by a ham knife, skin rashes that do not seem to be from this world...
What do they usually prescribe in these situations?
Corticoids as anti-inflammatories.
Exactly!
Well, corticoids are a variation of the molecule, cortisol.
And this hormone is precisely the one we have racing through our blood like Crazy Horse in situations of stress and/or anxiety!
Let's connects the dots, then:
The over-consumption of some (or several) of these foods will keep blood cortisol levels elevated as our bodies attempt to deal with the inflammation that these foods induce.
As a result, these same foods may be keeping the stress cycle going, regardless of the cause of the initial stress.
Rebalancing our body. How to give each food its proper space.
Oh, my God! Five out of five! Bingo! I have them all in my daily diet! Now what? A thousand questions come to mind!
How much is "over-consumption"?
Is there a "maximum" amount of each?
Should we avoid all of them?
Are all fats harmful?
Will I not be able to enjoy my glass of wine?
Do I have to live a permanently "sugar-free" life?
What about my morning coffee? What about my after lunch one?
…?
…?
…?!!!!!
If you are interested in understanding how each one of these foods affects your health and your stress levels, and what strategies to implement to rebalance your intake, don't miss the upcoming posts. 😉
How to do it when your agenda is already “stressful” enough? Easy! 😊.
You can subscribe here for free (at the bottom of the Page). You will receive high-quality, anti-inflammatory, and stress-free nutritional information 😊.
Meanwhile, a good start is to consider the role these foods play in your daily life.
Without judgment.
Only looking through the "lenses of curiosity", and observing where we are around the plate at this moment...
...And wherever you stand, it's always a great time to start getting back on track with your health.
DON'T LET THE STRESS EAT UP YOUR GOOD INTENTIONS FOR 2020!
Do you have any particular questions about any of these foods? You can leave them in the comments below, or write to me directly at teresa@yourlifeonaplate.com
I will be glad to hear from you 😊.
A wholehearted hug.
Teresa M.
Photos by: Jason Leung on Unsplash; Teresa Morillas; GIPHY.