Addressing Your Diet During Stressful Times

By Stepy Kamei

We're all learning how to live a new lifestyle in the midst of a public health crisis. It should only make sense then, that we can use this time to take a look at our personal health habits to see if any changes should be made. Despite what's happening in the world at large, we all know that one of the most important facets of health and wellness to focus on is our diet. Now more than ever, it's crucial to stay healthy. One of the easiest ways we can do this is by making sure we are consuming a diet that's balanced and filled with important nutrients. If you've got more free time on your hands than you have had in a while, it might be wise to start evaluating your current eating habits in order to see the positive and negatives of your dietary choices.

How Stress Effects Your Eating Habits

Have you ever heard of the term "stress eating"? It refers to a very common phenomenon where people tend to turn to food as a source of comfort and self-soothing in the face of stressful situations. Looking back, you've more than likely indulged in a bag of chips or a bowl of ice cream at some point while dealing with a stressful time.

Simply put, food can bring a feeling of comfort when the mind feels distressed. Unfortunately, it's often fatty and greasy foods that bring about these temporary feelings of calm. This is why too much stress eating and bingeing can often lead to weight gain and other health problems. Instead, it's better to replace your desire to eat fatty or sugary snacks with much healthier stress-relieving activities instead. Writing in a journal, going for a walk outside, or practicing yoga at home are all great examples of healthy stress-busting activities which don't involve eating unhealthy foods.

Focus on Adding the Right Foods

Sometimes, it's important to focus more on what you can add to your diet, as opposed to looking at what you should be taking out of it. This means taking the time to add foods with a higher nutrient content to your shopping list. Be sure to stock up on unprocessed, whole foods, including fresh fruit and vegetables, dark leafy greens, whole grains, and legumes.

As you begin to eat more snacks and meals with these types of ingredients, you may be surprised to notice your cravings for junk foods go down because your body will be getting the nutrients it really needs in order to stay healthy and thrive. 

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Edmond, Okla.