Stress and Food...
The Connection Between Stress and Food
The body
needs 91 nutrients to live on and those suffering from stress are
often deficient on zinc. Poppy seeds and oysters are rich sources.
One glass
of carrot juice every 12 hours for vitamin A. Avoid exposing the
carrots or the juice to heat or light. Slowly sip the juice on an
empty stomach immediately it is made. Mix the juice well with saliva
before swallowing.
A lack of
vitamin B causes stress and stress in itself depletes your supply of
vitamin B, creating a vicious circle. Vitamin B is a group of
approximately 17 in number and is destroyed by sugar, refined
carbohydrates, coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, stress, alcohol and
heat - so enjoy natural foods in their raw state to maximise your
vitamin B intake and leave the above-mentioned out of your
lifestyle.
Are you
on medication? Almost all medications deplete vitamins and minerals.
To single out any one B vitamin can lead to an imbalance and when we
look at sources of vitamin B, we find that where there is one B
vitamin, most, if not all of the group, will be in that plant.
Vitamin B
12 (which we can manufacture in our intestines) was once thought to
be unavailable in plant form, however, it is now found that traces
of it are indeed found in a variety of plant foods - in keeping with
the minute amounts of it needed by us.
The B
vitamins are abundantly found in whole grains, bran, brewer’s yeast,
sprouting seeds, green leaf vegetables, tomatoes, potatoes (although
lost in cooking), apricots, wheat germ, egg yolk, sprouting legumes.
The body does not store vitamin B, so make sure you have a good
supply of it, in its natural state, every day.
A glass
or two of wine before a meal helps to calm the nervous system.
Pasta, beans or bread release serotonin (a feel-good neuro-transmitter).
Organic
oats are excellent for reducing stress. A bowl of porridge every
morning or some home-made oatcakes. Raw is even better. Try medium
grain mixed with fresh cream and honey.
Stress and Food... Herbs and Remedies
Depending
which nervous system type (sympathetic or para sympathetic) you are will
determine how calming herbs will affect you. When you are stressed
look at your pupils. If dilated then calming herbs will work. If
constricted the calming herbs will actually have the opposite affect
and this may sound crazy but caffeine will have a calming affect on
you.
Here is a traditional Indian remedy for a weakened nervous system:
using a stick of cinnamon, a few cloves or a piece of ginger root
(or a combination of all three), heat in red wine to boil - this
destroys the alcohol. Cool slowly to drinking temperature. Drink a
glass each evening.
And, while in India, Indian ginseng (Ashwagandha) has been used for
relaxation for over 5,000 years. It stops the excessive release of
cortisol and adrenaline (your stress hormones) and is used to treat
high blood pressure, insomnia, stress, peptic ulcers and repeated
infections.
Mix 4 drops of Neroli,
cedar wood, rosemary, juniper or lavender
essential oil with a little carrier oil in the palm of the hand and
massage the neck and shoulders. Make another mix for the feet.
Prepare an evening bath with two drops each of mandarin oil
(calming), lavender (settling) and ylang-ylang (peaceful,
anti-depressant). Then select two pieces of music; one being fairly
upbeat, to dance to on your own, before the bath, and the other
being soothing, with a slower beat than your (pre-dance) pulse.
Dance as you do when no one is watching. Turn
up the volume and dance in a way fitting to your physical condition,
expressing your feelings. When that is done, change to your second
choice of music, soften the volume and slip into the bath. Close
your eyes and enjoy the sounds and aroma. Wrap yourself dry in a
large warm towel before climbing into bed.
If you feel tired in the morning, apply two drops of geranium
and two of lavender to your body sponge before washing, or simply
pour them on the floor of your shower, inhaling as you wash.
Bach Flower Remedies are great for a ‘quick fix’. Perfectionists
could take Vervain. Hornbeam is good for exhaustion. Aspen for panic
and Elm when overwhelmed. In crisis, take Rescue Remedy.
Stress and Food... What to
Avoid with Stress
Refined sugar, refined carbohydrates, coffee, tea, cola, chocolate,
stress, alcohol and most drugs as these all destroy vitamin B.
Concentrated protein no more than three times per week.
Eating
muscles of other animals causes stress as hormones and pheromones
stay in the meat, even after cooking.
The after-effects of alcohol robs you of vitality. Reduce your
intake and bear in mind that certain food combinations create
alcohol within the body.
Caffeine (tea, coffee cola, chocolate) artificially stimulates the
body. By the time we feel stressed, the body has been over
stimulated and suffers withdrawal symptoms when artificial
stimulants are stopped. Breaking the caffeine habit means dealing
with cravings. These cravings never last more than 10 minutes at a
time, and perseverance is well worth it. Replace with a glass of
clean water followed by a handful of raisins. The rewards are a
reawakened body.
TV. It wastes your time and seldom has much to offer in a positive
sense.
Ringing telephones. Use an answering machine and switch off your
mobile. If someone REALLY has to contact you, they will leave a
message.
Anything else that makes you want to scream. If there is someone you
really dislike dealing with, avoid them. Get someone else to deal
with them. Find solutions RIGHT NOW for difficult situations. One
of the greatest stressors is to postpone finding solutions. Talk it
over with a telephone counsellor - you remain anonymous and the
counsellor is skilled at finding solutions. Then dare to do
something different! Just once, replace the distressing activity
with something outrageously fun, out of character - and keep it a
secret!
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