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Obtain A Stress Free Life Today - Discover This Simple Secret To Reduce And Manage Your Stress

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Published: 11Nov2009
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Who knew that a six letter word could be just as mean and nasty as some of the 4 letter words out there. Stress! Who needs it? I sure don't and I was tired of it running (or should I say) ruining my life. I knew there was a way I could relieve stress without drugs and expensive treatments or therapy sessions. But I just couldn't put my finger on the stress reducing solution until I opened my eyes, shut my mouth, and started paying attention to what I was consuming. Did you know that you could reduce your stress levels by switching up the food/fuel you put in your body?

Just think about it for a second. Reflect on some of your most recent food choices and the stimuli behind what you decided to eat and why. There is a psychological cycle attached to stress and bad, low down rotten food. Typically, when people are overwhelmed, depressed, or stressed, their first instinct is to grab something to eat, and a majority of the time, the preferred food is "junk." You may tend to consume foods that are high in sugar such as sodas, candy, cake, etc. and foods that are high in carbohydrates and fats such as french fries, macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, and burgers (for those meat eaters) to help you get through a rough patch in your day.

Why do we gravitate to these unhealthy foods? Well, in a sense we are justified for selecting those "bad" foods. Eating such foods makes us feel a little better for a short period of time. The extra sugar and carbs that we get from the unhealthy foods gives the body a "spike" in the hormone serotonin, that makes us feel a little happier (for the time being) and brings us that comfort we need (hence the word "comfort food"). However, after your levels of serotonin drop and your blood sugar level comes crashing down, that is when reality starts to set in. You start to mentally beat yourself up about the ½ dozen cupcakes you inhaled and now you are feeling depressed, stressed and hungry all over again (because there was little to no protein in the "junk" that was just consumed) and the vicious cycle has a new beginning.

Now you wish you would have eaten some almonds, walnuts, or a salad loaded with fresh veggies, nuts, and marinated tofu to get you through your "rough patch." Eating and adopting a vegetable and fruit based diet eliminates and puts an end to the unhealthy food relationship that has been created by our poor food choices. Vegetable based or vegetarian diets are full of nutrients, vitamins, and are typically lower in bad fats. As a vegetarian, if you are eating a healthy, well-rounded realm of protein, fruits, plants, and vegetables, your body will no longer crave those so-called stress relieving (and in return stress inducing) unhealthy foods. Just check out how easy it is to make healthier food choices:

Foods You May Tend To Eat When You Are Stressed:

Burgers and Fries

Drink a coffee, caffeine, or sugar based beverage

A big bag of potato chips

Fried chicken

Foods You Should Eat To Relieve Stress:

Fresh green salad with nuts, asparagus, dried cranberries, and balsamic vinegar dressing

Fresh squeezed orange or grapefruit juice or a fruit smoothie

A handful of nuts or blue corn tortillas chips with salsa and guacamole

Lightly toasted Tempeh with a peanut sauce

If you notice, all the alternatives you could eat to battle stress are grain, vegetable or fruit based. Once you start to take baby steps and adopt a new way of eating, your body will begin to crave fresh vegetables, nuts and other whole foods that are rich in supporting nutrients and enzymes that your body can use to grow stronger and keep your stress levels and chemistry in check. Vegetables, fruits, and meatless proteins are processed by your body to give it continuous and consistent levels of sugar, carbohydrates, and energy, without the "spike" or sugar rush you may experience by eating burgers and fried foods (which are loaded with hidden trans fats and sugar).

The next time you are feeling overwhelmed, don't let the food you eat add to your "stress." Instead, select foods that are going to provide your "temple" with the ammunition it needs to fight stress and end the "food stress" cycle. Opt for nourishing your mind and mood with a vegetable based meal or snack that will not attack your body chemistry or cause regret, but will give your body what it needs to regroup emotionally and physically.

Ebony Johnson is a vegetarian cooking enthusiast and the host of Beyond the Garden, the vegetarian cooking experience that explores healthy and tasty vegetarian and vegan cuisines. Visit http://www.mybeyondthegardentv.com to subscribe to receive free access to monthly vegetarian & vegan cooking shows & recipes. Her recipes are full of tips & entertainment guaranteed to have you cooking healthy & tasty vegetarian meals to satisfy any palette.

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