Foods that cause stress

April is stress awareness month. We are all aware of stress, but maybe not as aware of foods that contribute to stress. A well-balanced diet is critical in preserving health and helping to reduce stress. Certain foods and drinks act as powerful stimulants to the body and hence are a direct cause of stress. This stimulation can overwork the liver, upset blood sugar levels and be harmful to your health over the long term.

Foods that stress

• Caffeine – increases the level of stress by causing the release of adrenaline. If you are addicted to caffeine, the stress hormone-producing adrenal glands become worn out. These stress hormones also interfere with metabolism. This is why too much stress can cause you to hold onto excess weight. Too much caffeine has the same effect as long-term stress.
• Alcohol – although many people turn to alcohol to relieve stress, it is actually a stimulant. Like caffeine, alcohol stimulates the secretion of adrenaline, resulting in nervous tension, irritability and insomnia. Alcohol limits the ability of the liver to remove toxins from the body. During stress, the body produces several toxins. Without proper filtering by the liver, these toxins continue to circulate through the body resulting in serious damage.
• Sweets – Like other stimulants, sugar may also cause the adrenal glands to become exhausted. High sugar also puts a severe load on the pancreas.
• Salt – Salt increases blood pressure, depletes the adrenal glands and causes emotional instability.
• Fatty foods – fats, especially saturated fats, put undue stress on the cardiovascular system.
• Margarine and other manufactured oils – products high in trans-fatty acids can have a detrimental effect on cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease. Trans-fats also block the body ability to assimilate healthy essential fatty acids.
• Dairy – can stress the body if you find milk proteins difficult to digest or if they trigger allergic responses.
• Red meat – elevates brain levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, neurotransmitters associated with higher levels of anxiety and stress.
• Refined and processed - products like white bread and flour stress the body because they are low in nutrients and high in empty calories, which means that in order to digest them, the body has to use its own vitamins and minerals, depleting its own precious stores.
• Additives, preservatives, and other toxic chemicals – these unnatural substances place considerable stress on the body because your body has to work harder to deal with them. Valuable energy and nutrients are used up taking care of these toxic substances instead of being made available for boosting the immune system, among other things.

Now that you know what foods are causing your body stress, you can take steps to avoid them. In tomorrow's post, I will outline foods that you can eat to de-stress the body. Until then, be kind to yourself, and avoid these foods, especially on stressful days.