| We all have many things to do within the | | | | They are naturally high in fiber and provide |
| hours of each day. With so many | | | | the right balance of carbohydrates, fats and |
| opportunities available, it is hard to not | | | | proteins. We must have good nourishing foods |
| over do it and put more into our schedules | | | | at every meal for the body to have the |
| than we can handle. | | | | nutrients to perform properly. As we do, we |
| | | | are able to think and react logically to the |
| Not only are we over scheduled, there are | | | | pressures and situations that we face. What |
| always many unforeseen situations that come | | | | we eat really does make a difference in how |
| up in life that we have no control over: loss | | | | we act and think! |
| of employment, accidents, health problems, | | | | |
| loss of a loved one, daily unplanned events, | | | | 2) Take the time to eat and chew your food |
| and more. Because of these situations, we | | | | properly. Good digestion of foods ultimately |
| can become stressed, angry, frustrated, feel | | | | begins in the mouth as the saliva breaks down |
| rejected and depressed which can lead to | | | | the chemicals in the food in conjunction with |
| health problems such as high blood pressure, | | | | the chewing process. Onto the stomach, the |
| heart attacks, headaches, loss of sleep, | | | | digestion process works for your body to get |
| indigestion, stroke and more. We will always | | | | the nutrients and energy it needs from the |
| have these types of situations - a part of | | | | food you eat. Give yourself at least 20-30 |
| life - but we can learn to avoid stress as we | | | | minutes to eat a meal, sitting down and |
| become aware of what is causing it or fueling | | | | relaxing while your body goes to work and |
| it and by choosing to face the situation | | | | does its job. |
| instead of reacting to it. | | | | |
| | | | 3) Think and prepare ahead so that, in this |
| Does nutrition and what we eat have anything | | | | fast pace world, you always have good |
| to do with stress? | | | | nourishing foods to grab in a moment's |
| | | | notice. Easy-to-grab foods are: fresh fruits |
| It actually has a lot to do with it in the | | | | such as apples, pears, and bananas (which all |
| way it is handled and managed. When we get | | | | come "pre-packaged"), raw nuts (you can carry |
| so involved in life's activities, we often | | | | these in a baggie in purse and car), fruit |
| times forget about eating well. In fact, we | | | | leather, dried fruit and raw nut mixes, whole |
| usually tend to grab high-calorie, high fat, | | | | grain rolls and crackers, whole grain health |
| empty-nutrition foods, turn to sweets or | | | | bars, etc. Of course, you will find many of |
| caffeinated beverages, or even forget to eat | | | | these in low and high quality brands, so read |
| at all. This actually creates more stress on | | | | labels and choose those minimally processed. |
| the body because we are lacking the vital | | | | There is a lot you can grab on the run that |
| nutrients to function properly and our blood | | | | has good high quality nutrition. Take the |
| sugar levels fluctuate. Thus, we become | | | | time initially to plan, purchase and prepare. |
| depressed, lethargic, lack energy and | | | | |
| concentration, and even experience mood | | | | 4) What we drink is just as important. |
| swings. | | | | Drinks such as alcohol, sodas, coffee, hot |
| | | | chocolate, and most fruit juices (frozen, |
| Why do we have a tendency to crave the | | | | bottled) are dehydrators and de-energizers. |
| empty-nutrition foods while under stress? | | | | What we really need is good pure water! |
| Our brain has a way of needing balance and | | | | Every function in the body greatly relies on |
| while under pressure it makes us do something | | | | water. Lack of water causes us to become |
| that will release neurotransmitters that will | | | | dehydrated, which restricts the activity of |
| cause us to relax. Usually the quickest and | | | | all these functions. Our best body's |
| easiest way to achieve this is by indulging | | | | performance comes from having a clean system. |
| on pleasure foods: candy, pastries, sodas, | | | | Good, pure, distilled water is our best |
| fried foods, etc. The smells, taste and | | | | cleanser, therefore cleansing and energizing |
| textures actually excite the chemicals within | | | | to the system. |
| the brain that will give us this short-term | | | | |
| satisfaction. With this instantaneous | | | | 5) Set aside time each day to exercise. |
| gratification, we continue to do it over and | | | | Exercise is the absolute best medicinal cure |
| over again. | | | | for those times that you start to feel |
| | | | stressed or avoiding it altogether. It is |
| However, we must keep in mind that in order | | | | necessary for the body functions to work |
| for the body to function properly | | | | optimally, and within 20-40 minutes, exercise |
| (physically, mentally, and emotionally), it | | | | can easily correct stressful situations. |
| must be properly fueled. Just as an | | | | |
| automobile must have good fuel to perform | | | | 6) Turn on peaceful music to soothe, calm and |
| properly, so must our bodies. Our fuel for | | | | relax you. We all need times of relaxation |
| high energy and performance comes in the way | | | | throughout the day. Also take time to |
| of nutrients from good quality foods. If we | | | | meditate and focus on worthy goals, your |
| have diets of highly processed foods (white | | | | blessings, and the peaceful things of life. |
| flour, white sugar, high fats and salt) with | | | | Watching the flowers and grass sway in the |
| little nutrient value, then the body cannot | | | | breeze is so relaxing to the soul (so much |
| function to its capacity, becomes stressed, | | | | more than television). These exercises help |
| over loaded, and it becomes sick and | | | | put life into the perspective of what's |
| diseased. | | | | really important and help avoid unworthy |
| | | | thoughts and feelings. |
| If we will include the following suggestions | | | | |
| in our daily eating and drinking habits, we | | | | We cannot just simply eliminate all the |
| will be much more capable of handling | | | | pressures of life. Yet we can learn to manage |
| stressful situations. | | | | and eliminate the effects of stressful |
| | | | situations by applying principles of good |
| 1) Think of the foods God gives us in their | | | | nutrition, eating, and drinking in this |
| whole food form: raw fruits and vegetables, | | | | manner. Focus on the real whole foods and |
| raw nuts and seeds, whole grains, legumes | | | | pure water and you can expect the body's best |
| (beans and peas). These all have a higher | | | | performance! |
| nutritional content than processed foods. | | | | |