5 Foods to Avoid for Stress Management
Nutritionist Lovneet Batra recently shared a post on Instagram about the effects of certain foods on our stress levels. According to her, there are five food sources that can trigger our anxiety and those we should avoid eating on a regular basis, especially if we have a hectic day ahead.[0]
Sugary treats, artificial sweeteners, and caffeine are all contributors to overall anxiety.[1] Sugary treats cause our blood sugar to spike and crash, which can lead to mood swings and increase our anxiety levels.[0] Artificial sweeteners can also increase inflammation and stress, as can too much caffeine, which can overstimulate our bodies and lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure.[2] Fried foods, which contain high amounts of trans fat, can also lead to inflammation, which can cause stress levels to rise.[0]
Not only do our diets affect our physical health, but they can also affect our mental health.[0] The trillions of microorganisms in our gut, better known as our gut microbiome, can communicate with our nervous and immune systems, which can affect our overall mood.[0] Eating foods that the bacteria in our gut like can help keep our moods stable, whereas eating foods that the bacteria don’t like can worsen our mood and trigger stress and anxiety.[0]
Finally, there are foods that may give us a temporary boost in mood, but can have a negative effect on our stress levels in the long run.[0] Eating sugary treats, for example, may give us a sugar rush, but we can feel tired and anxious later.
In conclusion, it’s important to be mindful of the foods we consume and how they can affect our stress levels. Eating the wrong foods can worsen our anxiety and make us more prone to stress. Therefore, it’s important to choose foods that can help keep our moods balanced and make us less likely to experience stress.
0. “5 foods that make you feel stressed and anxious” BOL News, 28 Feb. 2023, https://www.bolnews.com/health/2023/02/5-foods-that-make-you-feel-stressed-and-anxious/
1. “Mental Health: Worst Foods For Stress, As Shared By An Expert” NDTV, 28 Feb. 2023, https://www.ndtv.com/health/mental-health-worst-foods-for-stress-as-shared-by-an-expert-3822198
2. “Certain foods may ‘trigger’ stress; these are some of them” The Indian Express, 2 Mar. 2023, https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/foods-to-avoid-if-you-suffer-anxiety-8473838/
