Beat Stress Through Nutrition, says DMCH Doc

Ludhiana, June 27, 2016: For most of us, stress and food go hand-in-hand. Food can give us the feelings of power, control and satisfaction that we need in stressful situations, said Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina (Prof.& Head of Gastroenterology) who is also Secretary, Nutritional Society of India, while delivering a lecture to the group of doctors at National Webcast Meeting of Nutrition and Stress in Ludhiana.
In his lecture, Dr Chhina said that giving your body the good nutrition contributes a lot in combating stress, which arises from daily routine jobs. With the correct nutrition, one is much better prepared to face the challenges of the day. Studies have shown that eighty to ninety percent of industrial accidents occur due to inability of employees to handle stress. As brain needs glucose to work at its best, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables ensures that you get plenty of nutrients and minerals, which is crucial when your body is feeling stressed.
If a person feels over stressed, the digestive system also comes under a great deal of strain, therefore making changes to your diet is important to feel you physically and emotionally much better. Foods that have negative effects on the body when under stress include caffeine, foods high in fat and sugar, high consumption of processed fats and alcohol. It is a myth among people that consuming alcohol or liquor helps in relieving ourselves from stress.
Further elaborating, Dr Chhina said that cravings for processed and sugary foods gets more when you are feeling stressed, but it is important to avoid consuming these in high quantities. Not only can they play a hindrance on your overall health, but they can also make you feel worse in the long-term, said Dr Chhina .
Adopting a healthy lifestyle by combining eating little at regular intervals with physical activity is key to lead a healthy and stress -free life.