Wednesday, June 03, 2015

7 Comfort Foods that Cause Stress

Comfort foods that can cause stress


Come 20s and your life is a whirlwind as you start juggling between different roles, jobs, and relations. Hence, eating healthy and feeling good are paramount.

We all had been there and done that – eaten full packet of chips while watching TV, drunk that can of favorite drink at one go to feel more energetic, had favorite slice of cake thinking it will alleviate our stress. But, eating comfort foods might not be as comforting. In fact, their temporary illusionary comfort can cause you a big deal of stress and guilt, and weight and health issues in the long run.

So, stop giving yourself justifications now for having the following foods or drinks in excess, just to elevate your mood:

1. Soda

Apart from being bad for health and teeth, soda is also bad for your mood. Energy and sports drinks will shoot your sugar levels instantly only to crash them down right away, thereby causing mood swings. 

2. Salted Nuts

Salted nuts, chips, french fries, and popcorn may seem harmless but their high-sodium levels can cause water retention and bloating, which can lead to high blood pressure.  

3. Candies

Brief sugar high by our favorite candies, donuts, and cakes seem blissful for a short period of time, only to later cause fluctuations in our insulin levels.

4. Processed Foods

Processed foods are the worst of all foods as these are packed with fat, sodium, and artificial additives. These increases our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which, in turn, make us crave for these foods when we are in stress.

5. Caffeine

Caffeine, when consumed more than required, will stimulate your nervous system and lead to rapid heartbeat and higher blood pressure. Moreover, sweet coffee drinks, like lattes and mochas, can cause your blood sugar levels to shoot.

6. Spicy Food

If you are lately experiencing stress related digestive problems, blame it on spices. Spicy food can cause delay in digestion as well as can slow down the metabolism. 

7. Alcohol

Many people turn to alcohol to feel good without knowing it actually causes more stress by stimulating the release of cortisol in our bodies.

So, next time you crave for any of the above foods thinking it will comfort you, think again; it will only aggravate your stress levels.

2 comments:

  1. Not just to read about the topic you write on, I visit lifein20s to increase my vocab and read beautifully written content pieces, irrespective on the topic. :) ;)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Simranjeet :)
      Such words always inspire to write better.

      Delete

You seem an enthusiastic 20 something. Stay connected :)