| Over the years there have been many studies into | | | | one you want. |
| the benefits of good nutrition and, like many things in | | | | Another side effect of excessive eating is also that |
| life, these studies often contradict one another | | | | of weight gain and, as an increasing number of |
| leaving us wondering where the truth really lies. In | | | | people are discovering nowadays, being overweight is |
| general however there is agreement that a healthy | | | | a sure route to stress and even depression. The |
| and balanced diet does have an important role to | | | | answer therefore is both a sensible and balanced |
| play in reducing stress. | | | | diet, combined with a reasonable amount of exercise. |
| There is also general agreement that, where a diet is | | | | Eating sensibly and exercising will have the double |
| not particularly well balanced, supplements can be | | | | benefits of both reducing the production of |
| helpful. For example, serotonin is a chemical produced | | | | stress-inducing chemicals within the body and of |
| in the brain which helps to induce calm and, in the | | | | improving the way you look and feel, which will |
| case of a poor diet, taking a supplement which helps | | | | certainly lift your mood and provide a sound barrier |
| the brain to produce serotonin can assist the body in | | | | to stress. |
| combating stress. | | | | One other thing to watch out for is the habit of |
| Timing is however important and, as serotonin levels | | | | skipping meals. When you are stressed you'll often |
| are often naturally higher in the morning and lower in | | | | find that this depresses your appetite and it's very |
| the late afternoon, you can help your body by either | | | | easy to start missing meals. Stressed or not, try to |
| by taking supplements in the afternoon or by | | | | set yourself a regular routine when it comes to |
| enjoying a late afternoon snack which will aid the | | | | mealtimes and stick to it. |
| body's production of serotonin. Try a baked potato | | | | Also, try to make mealtimes a 'break' in your day and |
| or some pretzels, both of which are low in fat but | | | | leave your problems on one side while you're eating. |
| healthy. | | | | Use this as a time, specifically set aside to relax and |
| For some people excessive eating, especially of high | | | | to focus your attention on the good things in life. |
| fat foods, is the answer to stress. However, high fat | | | | You'll invariable find that when you get up you're your |
| foods tend to slow down or inhibit serotonin levels | | | | meal the world will be a lot calmer. |
| and so often have just the opposite effect to the | | | | |