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A Healthy Diet for Stress Relief

July 12th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

Going on a healthy diet for stress relief is a great idea. Furthermore, it very well could be a bad diet that is contributing to your stress in the first place. However, in addition to a healthy diet, which I’ll talk about in a moment, be sure to do these things too if you are dealing with stress.

Exercise is essential to relieving stress. I won’t get into it now since this article is on a healthy diet for stress. But anyway, if you are not exercising at least 3 days a week for at least 30 minutes, then you are losing out on a super stress reliever. Also, meditation and breathing exercises are essential for relieving stress. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to get tons of tips on relieving stress.

The Most Important Stress Free Diet Principle

When it comes to a healthy diet for stress relief, there is one key element. Stay away from too much caffeine. One cup in the morning is OK, but after noon stay away from it in all its forms. If you are used to drinking a lot of caffeinated drinks, hot or cold and eating a lot of chocolate, gradually cut back. Don’t go cold turkey – you may go through some painful withdrawal symptoms like migraines. This can greatly reduce your chances of sticking with a healthy diet for stress relief. Cut back one cup of coffee or one glass of cola for a week, and next week cut back yet another cup or glass, and so on.

Water and Fiber

Water and fiber are essential for relieving stress. This greatly aids any healthy diet, for stress relief. Water and fiber help give you a full feeling and keeps away the painful constipation that often occurs to new dieters. Alcoholic beverages don’t count as water – in fact, alcohol dehydrates you and makes you thirstier. Fiber is found in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and beans, and to a lesser extent in cooked vegetables. These are things you should be eating anyway, so think of eating more fiber as multitasking.

Drink more water, herbal tea or fruit juice instead. You don’t see results right away, but keeping at it will give you the confidence to make other choices for a healthy diet for stress relief. That and you’ll sleep better, which can also lower your stress.

Sugar

The average American consumes over a pound of sugar a week. You shouldn’t consume any at all for any reason. Of course, it’s impossible to stay away from sugar completely, but I highly suggest you make it your next fad along with decreasing your ecological footprint, etc. Sugar sucks and should not be part of any healthy diet for stress relief.