Stress-related problems

Stress is the body’s reaction to the things that one experiences. It is an outcome of interactions done with external factors, so if you feel stress from time to time -you’re normal. Every now and then, a person is bound to experience stress from family, work, social situations, finances, or illness. It may be a “short-term” stress resulting from every day situations such as being stuck in traffic or being confronted by the boss at work. However, it could also be “long-term stress’, chronic, and the type that appears due to unhappy marriage or minding an ill family member for lengthy periods.

Sometimes, stress can be motivating, like in cases when it helps an individual meet a deadline or win a competition. But it can also be an uncomfortable and negative feeling linked with racing heart, feeling out of control, and sweaty palms. Various things can be “stress triggers”, but how one responds to the situation will determine its effects. The proper management of stress is the key to diminishing, preventing, and even eliminating stress.

Stress can cause all kinds of problems including fatigue, tension headaches, insomnia, and even ulcers and indigestion. Not to mention long term stressors can wear down your immune system and heart, which makes you sick, which gives you more stress and the cycle can be endless.

Finding the Causes of Stress

Finding the causes of stress is the most efficient way to handle stress. By doing so, you will not only counter the ill effects of this but also divest these energies into something useful. Here are some tips for finding the causes of stress and controlling it. Anger and fear is the psychological preparation of the body to fight or flee. When you are angry, blood starts to pump more oxygen into your system, that’s why there’s always the risk for heart failures especially with those having heart conditions. One of the biggest causes of stress is anger, fear, hatred and other emotions similar to it.

Anxiety is also another great contributor to stress. Depression, lack of motivation, sadness, grief, these emotions and other similar to it are causes of psychological stress. They may not excite you in the same way as being angry but they do inhibit several bodily functions.

Stress Busting Foods

-High fiber foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, increase serotonin (a mood enhancing hormone) in the brain, naturally reducing the effects of stress.

-Eat raw fruits and vegetables often. They are not only higher in vitamins and minerals than cooked foods; they also contain natural stress reducing compounds called flavonoids.

- Low fat dairy and yogurt are recommended because they are high in calcium and magnesium. Foods high in calcium and magnesium have been shown to reduce stress because these two nutrients relax muscle fibers.

Things to Avoid

- Avoid foods and drinks that are filled with stimulants like caffeine which tax the nervous and immune system. Chocolate, coffee, and most teas should only be used in moderation. In addition, there are toxic levels of acid in most soft drinks which rob the body of calcium (one of the natural stress busters).

- Sugar is another food that can trigger stress because it causes rapid fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Sugars are hidden in many foods under names like dextrose and sucrose.

- As much as possible avoid packaged meals and snacks that contain artificial colors, flavors, additives, and preservatives. These chemicals are hard on the body because they are not recognized as natural, therefore the body responds defensively to them, straining the immune system.

Unfortunately, many foods are loaded with refined sugars, bleached flours, additives, preservatives, and other toxins that can compromise health. Many foods today lack vital nutrients and as a result you may not be getting the nutrition you need to counteract the effects of stress. In most instances, diet alone is not sufficient in meeting individual nutritional needs. A good multi-vitamin and/or herbal supplements can help ensure proper nutrition, and as a result help you reduce stress. In particular there are a few vitamins that are essential for stress management.

Stress Vitamins

There are a couple of vitamins that have been shown in studies to greatly prevent and/or reduce the signs of stress. According to Psychology today, people with high levels of vitamin C do not display the expected signs of mental and physical stress when subjected to intense psychological stresses.

In addition, the family of B-vitamins strengthens the nervous and immune systems, which allows them to better combat fatigue brought on by stress. The B vitamin Niacin also helps the body effectively release energy from carbohydrates, balancing and leveling blood sugar levels which also reduce stress.