Stress Management Nutrition - An Introduction
Eating to reduce stress and promote calmness is a question of selecting the right foods and limiting those that release the stress hormone - cortisol.
When I was a personal trainer, at least 75% of the questions I got from clients related to diet. Part of the reason is that there is so much conflicting information out there - even amongst the 'experts'. However, there are a few principles I consider fundamental truths and it is relatively straightforward to construct a sensible diet plan from that foundation. I will be addressing the full scope of this important topic in future posts. In this post, I will limit myself to sharing a few quick nutrition tips to keep in mind to manage your stress levels.
┃Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
~1 Corinthians 10:31
Popularist health advice has demonised cortisol, which is undoubtedly partly due to its unaffectionate nickname - “The Stress Hormone.” What is universally agreed, though, is that stress raises your cortisol levels and correspondingly inhibits the release of serotonin and acetylcholine (the calming hormones). Chronically elevated cortisol levels can lead to various health issues, including weight gain, impaired immune function, and cardiovascular problems. Therefore what follows is advice on how to eat to minimise cortisol production while maximising serotonin and acetylcholine production.
