Chronic stress can have negative effects on both physical and mental health. While there are many strategies for managing stress, including exercise, relaxation techniques, and therapy, eating a healthy diet rich in certain foods can also help reduce stress levels. Here are some foods that may help fight off stress:
- Fatty fish: Fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, and sardines, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce inflammation and improve mood.
- Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate contains antioxidants and compounds that can help reduce stress hormones and improve mood.
- Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds are high in healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation and improve mood. Almonds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds are all good choices.
- Fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation and improve overall health. Dark leafy greens, berries, and citrus fruits are particularly good choices.
- Whole grains: Whole grains, such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat bread, are high in fiber and complex carbohydrates, which can help regulate blood sugar and reduce stress.
- Herbal teas: Certain herbal teas, such as chamomile, lavender, and passionflower, have been shown to have calming effects on the body and may help reduce stress and improve sleep.
Overall, incorporating a variety of these stress-fighting foods into your diet can help support overall health and well-being, and may help reduce the negative effects of chronic stress on the body and mind and promote overall health and well-being.
Diet. I completely loathe that word.
There’s something about the thought of going on a ‘diet’ that makes me absolutely nauseous. Maybe it’s because I remember in vivid detail how I felt each time I would start the latest “all the rage” diet, mapping out a brand-new beginning for myself. I would foolishly yet optimistically hope that this diet was going to be ‘the one’. I assumed that fad diets would fix everything if I just found ‘the one’. It was going to be as simple as eating certain foods, at certain times of the day, for a certain amount of time and voila! My weight problems would be solved.
The truth is we have been programmed by society to associate the word ‘diet’ with restrictions, deprivation, hunger, and dissatisfaction. However, the literal definition of the word diet is “the type of foods that a person, family, or community habitually consume as a way of living”. It is nothing more than mere nourishment needed to survive. It’s not a dirty word, it’s not even a remotely negative word. But let’s be honest, in regards to how WE actually perceive the word….DIETS suck. RESTRICTIONS suck. HUNGER sucks.
So let’s talk about it.
My first few blog posts will discuss some issues that can hinder you from reaching your weight loss goals.
1) You’re not ready.
Like I said on my home page, weight loss starts with your MIND. I don’t mean just thinking to yourself, “I want to lose some weight”. Your mind must be ‘THERE. I know you know what I mean. It simply has to be THERE. Mental preparation is vitally important to your success. If you’re not mentally on the same page as your body, you will likely not get the lasting results you desire.
How do you know you’re mentally prepared and your mind is ‘THERE’? You are dedicated to working towards your weight loss, and continue working, no matter what. It’s a struggle, it won’t be easy, and you need to be ready to accept the challenge. You are willing to forge a commitment of being honest with yourself and refuse to flounder once and for all.
That commitment entails that you are going to be your biggest cheerleader instead of your worst critic. Negative self-talk sets you up for failure, guilt, and lower self-worth. Choose to focus on your accomplishments rather than your failures and it will lead to more positive results. It’s a fact proven by scientific research! Be filled with positivity because your thoughts do influence your actions. If your mind’s not in it, you won’t get far.
I’ll say it again for the people in the back: Weight loss begins with the MIND.
