Stressed??? Read This:
We have all experienced a stressful time in our lives: unhappy in a job, unrealistic expectations, chronic illness or injury, traumatic events (such as a global event...aka COVID), finances, etc. The list can go on and on.
Did you know that life and stress play a role in our food and nutrition choices?
Even though acute stress is helpful in getting us through short term circumstances in which we need extra adrenaline and alertness, chronic stress lasts longer and messes with our bodies hormones and neurotransmitters. Stress increases the level of the hormone cortisol in our bodies, which in turn makes our bodies crave carbohydrates, specifically high sugar carbohydrates, and store fat around the mid-section. So, even if you don’t eat more due to stress you can still gain weight due to stress. Additionally, stress also causes an increase in appetite.
SO WHAT DO WE DO? It's easier said than done to turn off that stress switch that goes off in our brain. I want to give you some practical tips to manage stress the best you can.
-My favorite way to manage stress is starting my day off with a relaxed routine. For me, that looks like reading my Bible and sipping my coffee. Other people like going through a 5 minute wake up stretch routine or deep breathing.
-Take a power walk or exercise break. "Sweating it out" can be a great way to relieve stress from the day.
-Find a stress relieving activity that you can do EVERY day. It doesn't have to be long, but it should be a little part of your everyday life. A couple examples that I have seen work with previous clients are journaling, reading, leisure walking, playing with the dog, dancing, working on a fun house project, or talking to a friend on the phone.
-Schedule time off. Studies have shown that people who take breaks throughout the work day, take a day off per week, and take their vacation time each year have lower rates of metabolic complications (aka heart disease, cancer, and diabetes).
Holistic nutrition requires a whole-life approach to health and fitness including stress, sleep, timing of meals, exercise, how your food is prepared, and more. I like to call these items our nutrition support team. The most important part of holistic nutrition is that it is not a one size fits all diet program. Instead, it is highly INDIVIDUALIZED. If you feel as though you need guidance to nail down an individualized plan to feel your best and perform at your top ability, please email nuleafnutrition2018@gmail.com to set up a free service consultation call with me. I would be happy to talk with you more about your nutrition goals.
