Stress

Stress is a major part of our busy modern lives. In fact a certain amount of stress is good for you, however, problems occur when stress becomes unmanageable and you become overloaded with it,  often initiating feelings of being overwhelmed or out of control. Typical symptoms of stress include:

• Inability to concentrate
• Difficulty making decisions
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Feeling as if there aren’t enough hours in the day
• Low sex drive
• Irritability
• Anger
• Feelings of guilt and fear
• Loneliness
• Panic attacks
• Palpitations and rapid pulse
• Dizziness
• Constipation
• High or Low blood pressure

There are two ways that diet and nutrition can help to manage stress, firstly you can increase all the nutrients that are used in excess during stressful periods and secondly you can ensure that your blood sugar is kept even,  giving you better energy levels to deal with stressful situations. Symptoms of blood sugar imbalance include;

• The need for more than 8 hours sleep a night
• Difficulty in waking in the morning
• Needing stimulants in the morning (coffee, tea, cigarettes)
• Needing stimulants throughout the day
• Feeling drowsy during the day and/or having an afternoon slump
• Irritability or dizziness after 6 hours without food
• Avoiding exercise becaue you’re tired
• Excessive thirst
• Difficulty concentrating
• Low energy levels

Improvements in mood and a renewed ability to cope can come about very quickly with a few minor changes to your diet and improved nutrition. It is also important to consider ways of reducing the stress levels in your life. You might consider discussing this with a counsellor or psychotherapist.