Managing Stress with Healthy Eating

Stress affects us in many ways, but perhaps it is most felt in our bodies. When we are under immense pressure we feel it first in physical exhaustion, mental fatigue, or physical ailments, like high blood pressure, migraines, stomach ulcers, and a weakened immune system. One of the most effective ways of managing stress is with healthy eating.

Healthy Eating Elements that Make a Positive Difference

Cortisol to the Rescue

Our central nervous system is kind of like our body’s main circuit board. Our moods and health are regulated by hormones distributed by the nervous system. When we are stressed, the nervous system is flooded with the hormone called cortisol. Cortisol helps convert protein into glucose, which is used as fuel by our bodies when we need energy to complete tasks.

In large doses, however, cortisol negatively impacts our body’s ability to fight infections. This is why we tend to become sick when we are under stress. We need to regain the health of our immune system and reduce the amounts of cortisol in our system.

Vitamin C

We might have been taught that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but we’d probably be better off eating citrus, papaya, and kiwi. Better yet, for those who can handle the heat, chilies have more Vitamin C than all of these combined. If hot food is not for you, bell peppers are a good Vitamin C-boosting food.

Vitamin C has many helpful functions in the body, but the reason it is recommended during winter and sickness seasons is because it boosts the health of our immune system. So, when cortisol has negatively impacted our immune system, Vitamin C has a helpful counter effect, making it helpful in managing stress.

B-Vitamins

In addition to Vitamin C, Vitamins B1, B2, and B12 help to regulate the nervous system. These vitamins break down carbohydrates and distribute nutrients throughout the body, earning their name as the “building blocks of the body.” B vitamins are found in eggs, dairy, meat (especially liver), seafood, leafy vegetables, legumes, and seeds.

Magnesium

Magnesium helps regulate our blood pressure, makes protein for bone growth, and helps our muscle and nerve functions. The good news for chocolate lovers is that dark chocolate is high in magnesium! Although, you’d be best off obtaining magnesium from spinach, quinoa, avocado, nuts (especially almonds), and bananas.

L-Theanine

L-Theanine is commonly prescribed for managing stress. It is an amino acid that boosts our brain functions and lowers our blood pressure. It also aids disrupted sleep patterns by soothing our nervous systems. The human body does not produce this amino acid, and it is classed as a non-essential compound, but medical research has proved that it is helpful for stressed nervous systems. You can find it in black tea, green tea, and mushrooms, as well as in pill form.

Getting help for managing stress

Stress affects our lives in several ways, especially in a physical way. In addition to other stress management techniques, we must pay attention to our diet and try to eat in a way that helps our body protect us from stress. For this, we can take health supplements in pill form, but it is also advisable to eat healthily as a way of boosting the health of our nervous system.

In addition to maintaining your physical health to deal with stress, paying attention to your mental, emotional, and spiritual health is also essential. Counseling is one way in which you can do this. If you would like to meet with a counselor, we can help. Contact us at Culver City Christian Counseling when you are ready, and we will help you assess your needs and connect you with a counselor in Culver City, California to help you.