Stress: How Stress Effects Health

Stress is inevitable. It is in every job and everyone's life at some point or another.


But how does stress effect your health?

Well for starters, it decreases the nutrition in your body. After years and years, it can lead to stroke, heart attacks, and depression. If you are feeling even the slightest bit aprehensive then you have the potential for this to lead to stress. Dreading a meeting with someone who is supposed to be helping you, or even waking up and stubbing your toe can cause stress.

Most of the time a simple thing (like stubbing your toe) can be the smallest of triggers that can begin the cycle of your day on literally the wrong foot. Now, yes we have all done it, but if something as simple as that can alter your mood or day enough, it can spiral out of control.

So whether it is work, health, emotional, or family related, there is no need to become a stress ball.

Stress Management: Using Food to Deal with Stress.

Normally I would be the last one to say eat to feel better when it comes to coping mechanisims. Infact, even as a small boys, I would not give my children to have an ice cream or cookie because they were sad or fell down.

I didn't want them to relate being sad and how to feeling better with food. Now, before you call me crazy (and maybe it's already too late ha ha) think of this:

When a small child falls and scrapes their knee in the summer, they are often given a freezie or ice cream to stop the crying. Now in my opinion, this works 100%. They stop crying because thier attention is redirected elsewhere and there is something in their mouths so they can't speak.

However, it also teaches them (sometimes at very young ages) that if you want to stop crying or your sad, EAT. It will make you feel better. Sad isn't it?

So, when these kids grow up to be adults and are upset or sad about work or a broken down relationship they turn to food.. And it's usually the salty or sugary ones that don't actually help your body.

Let's be honest here.. You don't see ice cream at funerals..

Ok so maybe you do, but I haven't. So what kind of foods can you use instead? What about strawberries? They are high in vitamin C and seeing as you have to repeatedly do the hand-to-mouth motion, the space in between helps to make you feel more full.

There is also celery, apples, and pomegrantes. What about chips or pretzels? Not so good. They are high in Fats, Sodium and other chemicals that will not assist your body at all when it comes to the nutrients you will need to combat Stress.

What to do with Holiday Stress?

When it comes to holiday stress I can only say one thing. Bail. If you find yourself constantly having to host the Christmas or New Years Dinner, alot it to someone else this time. Holiday stress can have dizzying effects on the body.

When anxiety happens, it uses our "healthy or good" energy to fight off the effects of stress. But, that means that there is nothing left over for you afterwards. Which is why we feel that numb drained feeling after just a short period of time. And that is why I say commit yourself to as little as possible.

If you are someone who "feels the heat" quickly then others, don't spread yourself to thin. Yes, Christmas and birthdays are special holidays, but having you around for a longer period of time will likely mean more to your family. When the aprehension about doing something just for a family gathering is causing you literal pain in the neck, your emotional stress levels are very high.

And these are just the celebrations.

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