Combating Stress

1. Stress and Digestion: Even if we eat a healthy diet, our bodies will be unable to digest the nutrients if we eat under stressful conditions. Our state of mind is critical at meal times. The body can assimilate nutrients from food only if we eat in a relaxed environment. Our thoughts during meal times have a profound effect on our digestion. If something is bothering you or you are agitated, it is best not to eat at that time. When you compose your self later you can resume eating. Treat meal times as sacred moments. Don't force yourself to eat just because it is mealtime. Follow your hunger signals. Try and eat up to 3/4 the of your eating capacity for good digestion. If you overfeed yourself, you will be overloading the digestive system with work. This will make you feel lethargic, sleepy and weak.
2. Food that fight stress: When your body is under stress the demand for nutrients is more as more key nutrients are burned up. Stress increases the demand for vitamin C, the B-complex, magnesium, vitamin A, proteins, antioxidants and essential oils.
3. Vitamin C: There is more concentration of vitamin C in the brain tissue than in any other tissue in the body. It is a powerful antioxidant. During stress more of it is used up. Therefore those under stress should consume any where between 500 to 1000 mg daily.
4. Fruits: They are rich in antioxidants and are an ideal food for reducing stress. They contain simple sugars as well as complex carbohydrates, which helps raise sirloin in the 'feel good' neurotransmitter. There are a number of people two overeat when they are stressed. Those who eat food to battle stress eventually end up battling obesity. Fruits are an ideal food for such people.
5. Cruciferous vegetable: Cruciferous vegetable like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli are rich in bio-flavinods which are powerful antioxidants. During stressful times, the body generated a whole lot of free radicals, which harm the cells. Bio-flavinods protect the body against such damage.
6. Green Tea: Green tea is particularly rich in polyphenols. These are active agent against cancer, heart disease. They protect the body against stress. It would be worth to switch to drinking green tea instead of regular black tea as block tea erties by fermentation.
7. Chamomile Tea: This herb helps bring about relaxation and promotes sound sleep. If you find that your life has been hectic and you find yourself all knotted up like a bundle of nerves, you can take a cup of chamomile tea to put yourself at ease. Due to its ability to induce relaxation, it may help to reduce the affects of stress. However some people are known to be allergic to this herb. So use it with caution. If you experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea then stop using it. Chamomile tea should be best taken at bedtime. About 1-2 cups in the night are sufficient to wash away stress and induce sleep.
8. Yoga and Meditation: Meditation helps combat stress by allowing the mind to accumulate energy in silence. When we stop our mental chattering we can become more centered and generate a lot of positive energy. Pranayam, that is simple breathing exercises and yoga have been proved very beneficial in combating all forms of stress. Pranayam helps to promote controlled breathing and brings about balance in the body.