Keep tabs on your stress
It is not unknown that high-stress levels tend to take a toll on our health. However, have you ever taken a deeper look at the science of stress? While some degree of stress on the body is not bad (as it helps maintain our body’s homeostasis and survival), long-term exposure to stress has been proven to cause harmful physiologic changes in our memory, hormone, cognition, mood disorders, and the immune system.
Chronic stress has been linked to adverse effects on appetite, hydration, and the functioning of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Stress affects how well you digest & absorb nutrients. In addition, it may lead to GI inflammation by either reactivating or accelerating inflammation and causing Irritable Bowel Syndrome-like symptoms.
Ditch the diet
When it comes to self-care, the best thing you can do for your body is to nourish it instead of restricting it. Self-care has been coined as “the practice of taking an active role in protecting your well-being & happiness, particularly during periods of stress.”
Now the question is, “When did a diet make you happy? Or maybe ensure your well-being? Or cause you less stress?
The notion of dieting, detoxing, cleansing, “giving up brings about feelings or actions related to guilt, restriction, and as a result, more stress.
Good nutrition and self-care do not suggest dieting. Instead, it means appropriately fueling and feeding your body the essential nutrients to function, including high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and carbohydrates.
Do not skip your meals
If you go hours without eating, you are not fueling your system. As a result, your metabolism goes out of control, and things like fatigue, brain fog, and low energy can start to set in. When you finally eat, it is not uncommon to ignore your satiety cues, guilty feelings, overeat, or be physically uncomfortable afterwards. Believe it or not, your body will not be able to make the most of exercise without proper nutrition before and after. So, avoid skipping meals and grab a snack in between. Make sure that your snack contains healthy fats, high-quality lean protein, and fibre from carbohydrates to stay full.
To ensure success, we recommend stocking your kitchen with essentials. Thus, it is easier to make a nourishing meal even when you are tired. Think brown rice, no-sodium added canned beans, whole-wheat pasta, tomatoes, tuna, oats, broth, whole grain crackers, frozen fruit, veggies, and frozen lean protein.
At Eat2BHealthy, we help you design a good nutrition plan, ensuring you reach your self-care goals. Please do not hesitate to connect with us if you find this blog helpful.