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