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Food lacking vitamins, minerals and any good nutritional value will prevent your body from functioning properly and could cause undesirable consequences. This will make you feel mentally unhappy and could lead to stress. Therefore, to avoid increasing stress levels and to live a healthier lifestyle, stress inducing food should be limited or avoided.
Anything containing caffeine should be avoided in order to reduce stress. Although coffee and caffeinated drinks are stimulants and increase your energy levels throughout the day, caffeine inhibits serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that functions in the brain and is found in the gastrointestinal tract, blood platelets and central nervous system primarily. The main role of serotonin is to relay messages from one place in the brain to another and these messages are related to mood, sleep, appetite, memory, learning and social behavior. However research has shown that serotonin is associated with feelings of happiness and well-being and the imbalance of serotonin level may causes stress, anxiety and depression.
It is true to a certain extent that sugary foods calm and satisfy us. However food high in simple sugar, particularly refined sugar, actually increases stress hormone levels, inducing stress. This also spikes blood sugar levels and this would eventually lead to a sugar crash where you will feel low and tired. On the other hand, complex carbohydrates do the exact opposite.
Alcohol is a depressant and while in the short term it may ease your stress and anxiety, in the long term it can contribute to more stress, depression and anxiety. This is because alcohol slows down the brain functions and the central nervous system, which causes an imbalanced of essential neurotransmitters for good mental health. Studies have also shown that heavy drinkers for prolonged periods of time suffer from more mental health problems. Therefore, it is important to consume alcohol in moderation.
Junk food and fast food is fine once in a while, but they lack essential vitamins and minerals that are required in a balanced healthy diet. They are high in unhealthy fats, carbohydrates and protein and lack vitamins and minerals, which causes an imbalance in the correct vitamins and minerals. This will result in an imbalanced of hormones being produced in the body, inducing stress.
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Sources:
Boots. Serotonin facts. Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.boots.com/depression/guide/serotonin-faqs
Drinkaware. Alcohol a cure for stress? Retrieved from: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental-health/alcohol-a-cure-for-stress
Stress.org. How food can help your stress levels. Retrieved from: http://www.stress.org.uk/How-food-can-help-your-stress-levels.aspx
Everidayhealth. 9 Food that help or hurt anxiety. Retrieved from: http://www.everydayhealth.com/anxiety-pictures/anxiety-foods-that-help-foods-that-hurt-0118.aspx#09
PCRM.org. How to eat right to reduce stress. http://www.pcrm.org/health/health-topics/how-to-eat-right-to-reduce-stress
Healthambition. Using Almonds for weight loss, More Energy and Better Skin. https://www.healthambition.com/using-almonds-for-weight-loss/
