Nutrition and Stress Management

December 12, 2006 by Vishal | No Comments

Among other things, a proper balanced diet plays a crucial role in the management of stress. During a period of stress, when you are expected to have more emotional, physical and intellectual resilience, a healthy person is in a better position to combat the situation than an unhealthy and weak one.

One needs all the nutrients in sufficient quantity, some specific nutrients more than others. Vitamin B is required since it affects the nervous system which is a key component in the body required to fight stress. Calcium is also essential since it balances the effect of lactic acid that causes muscles to tense.

To ensure that your body gets all the nutrients that you may need to face any situation, you need to consume a balanced diet that provides you with all the forty to sixty nutrients that are essential. These nutrients include various kinds of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids. Amino acids come from proteins and the essential fatty acids can be obtained from vegetable oils and animal fat. It is essential to consume various kinds of foods including fruits, vegetables, meats and grains to ensure that you get adequate amounts of all nutrients as no single food really provides all nutrients.

During periods of stress, as far as possible, you should have whole grains and avoid processed foods. This gives you sustained energy to go on. Caffeine should be avoided under any circumstances. It causes sleeplessness and nervous behavior and can cause faster utilization of your vitamin B reserves. Resorting to alcohol for stress management is also not a good idea since it also causes inhibits a restful sleep and can impair judgment. Some people tend to resort to chocolates and sugary food during stress. Sugar can provide a high but is generally followed by a low mood and therefore such swings in feelings and enthusiasm levels are best avoided.

Since stress uses up the nutrients that you may have in your body at a faster rate, you should ensure that you have adequate amounts of magnesium, potassium and calcium. Magnesium helps muscles to relax. Potassium can be found in foods like orange juice, squashes, apricots, limes, bananas, tomatoes and peaches. Bananas, yogurt and tofu are a good source of calcium. To obtain best results you need to take a hard look at your diet and ensure that all the essential nutrients are being consumed in some manner or the other. It may not be a bad idea to visit a nutritionist and discuss your diet. A good diet plan followed during stress can help you manage it better and a good diet that is continued even after the period of stress is over can help you avoid future stress.

Do not expect the new diet to change the stress situation immediately. It may take some time for you to adopt the new diet completely and even more time for the body to start assimilating and showing observable results. The requirement of each body is different and you may take time to settle with a diet that is suitable for your needs. If you choose a diet that is extremely bland and if you do not find the food tasty, you are unlikely to continue it for long enough for it to show significant effects.

Nutrition, Diet Therapy for Stress Management

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