For many of us, one of the first things we do when we are stressed out is reach for food. We may not always make the best choices, as we just want to feel good. We tend to reach for high carb, high fat and sweet foods- to gain a sense of comfort and calm. We may even go back to our childhood favorites to recreate a time when we felt safe and secure. When we are not fully conscious of the food choices we are making, we may inadvertently make our stress worse. High sugar foods deplete the body of essential nutrients, many of which tame the stress! Refined carbohydrates are void of nutritional value and can interfere with the proper functioning of our digestive system (and, we know that our feel good chemical, serotonin, is produced in the gut!!). So, what are some wise go to foods to grab when we are under stress? 1. Opt for foods high in B vitamins, especially in B12,which helps support the nervous system. The best sources for vitamin B 12 are animal foods, so choose wisely and go for organic and pastured meats, wild caught shellfish like mussels, clams and crab and good quality fin fish. 2. Go for foods that are high in magnesium- Magnesium is our Stress mineral! When we are stressed, our magnesium stores become depleted. Leafy greens are a GREAT source of magnesium!! 3. Try a handful of properly prepared (and by that I mean soaked and dried) nuts! Nuts are high in Vitamin E and magnesium. Add a bit of celtic sea salt to your nuts to get a mineral boost! 4. Satisfy your craving for fat with good quality fats- coconut oil, coconut milk, pastured (raw) whole milk products and stay away from rancid vegetable oils like corn, soy, canola, and transfats. 5. Dont skip meals- skipping meals wrecks havoc on our blood sugar levels, making it more difficult to cope with stress and leaves us grabbing for anything to give us some energy! Eat well balanced meals!
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:30:22 +0000
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