is a state of mental or emotional strain, or tension, resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. Stress can cause long-term illness, including depression and diabetes as well as cardiovascular and digestive problems.
Three Stages of Stress:
- The Initial Alarm: Body produces adrenaline and cortisol allowing the opportunity to respond or resist (‘Fight’ or ‘Flight’)
- The Resistance Stage: If there is no response, the body creates a mechanism, which learns to cope with the event (Resources are being drained)
- The Exhaustion Stage: The body has used up all of its resources and symptoms of stress are beginning to show
Stress can cause unhealthy eating habits and can often make the body crave unhealthy foods. Common trends include forgetting/skipping meals, high intake of caffeine, sugar saturated fat and convenience foods, erratic dieting and picking at food constantly. Poor dietary choices may result in weight gain, blood sugar imbalance and a weakened immune system.
The ‘anti-stress’ diet focuses on rebalancing hormones and blood sugar, as well as boosting the immune system. Specific nutrients (lost during periods of stress) are replenished to calm the stress response.