Food Causes Of Stress: 11 foods that help increase stress

1. – Caffeine– this is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola etc. Caffeine induces adrenalin production thus increasing stress. People addicted to caffeine exhaust the adrenal glands which produce stress hormones. These hormones influence the metabolism. In the long run caffeine associated with an unhealthy diet leads to weight gain. Excessive caffeine consumption has the same effect as prolonged stress.
2. – Alcohol– is a major cause of stress. Ironically some people start drinking to reduce stress. But alcohol combined with stress is lethal. Alcohol stimulates adrenaline secretion, which leads to nervous tension, irascibility and insomnia. Alcohol abuse leads to fat deposits on the heart and weakens the immune system. Also alcohol diminishes the livers ability to flush toxins from the body.
3. – Sweets-sugar has essential nutrients. It provides a sudden rise of energy, which can exhaust the adrenal glands. This can lead to irascibility, a weak capacity to concentrate and depression. Sugar abuse takes a great toll on the pancreas which increases the risk of diabetes.
4. – Salty Foods-salt raises blood pressure, exhausts the adrenal gland and induces emotional instability. Use a salt substitute which contains potassium instead of sodium. Avoid ready to eat foods, with a high salt content, such as ham, pickles and sausages.
5. – Fat foods-avoid consuming foods with a high content of saturated fats, such as animal originated products, milk products, fried foods and fast foods. Fat puts the cardiovascular system under futile stress.
6. – Cow milk and milk products – they stress the body thru their content, for example the protein named casein, which is very hard to digest and can produce allergic reactions.
7. – Red Meat – has a high protein content, increases the brain’s dopamine and nor epinephrine level, both substances are associated with anxiety and stress;
8. – Ready to eat and processed foods, such as bread and refined flour stress the body by having a low nutritional value, containing an abundance of useless calories. Besides, to digest refined foods the body has to use its own vitamins and minerals, meaning consuming its reserves. Flour based foods are cookies, biscuits, bread and bake goods.
9. – Margarine and other processed vegetable oils – have a high content of fatty acids, and an abundant diet of these acids can have negative effects on cholesterol, increasing the risk of cardiac afflictions. At the same time they stop the body from absorbing essential fatty acids beneficial for your health.
10. – Spicy foods– spices contain volatile oils that can irritate the stomach’s mucus. It’s better if you avoid consuming curry, hot peppers and very hot sausages, found in Mexican and Indian cuisine, and some drinks. A menu of very hot curry or chilli can literally pierce the gastric mucus.
11. – Food additives, preservatives and other chemical substances – food additives put enormous stress on the body, because it needs to work hard to handle them; thus wasting valuable energy and nutrients instead of using them in an useful way (strengthening the immune system for example)

A balanced diet is a crucial factor in maintaining health and reducing stress. Also drinking herbal tea diminishes many symptoms  of stress.

You should also check out:

• Stress Weight Gain: stress and excessive eating
• Fast and Simple Relaxation Exercises You Can Do at Work: no stress
• Eliminate Stress with Tai Chi
• How to avoid gaining weight because of stress
• Can stress determine weight gain? Is stress fattening?