Proper Nutrition, Managing Stress During A Pandemic

 

Do you find yourself shopping for snacks and junk foods more often while visiting the grocery stores? The pandemic has brought a lot of changes to the daily lives of individuals all around the world, affecting several areas of life - including their nutrition and exercise. Now more than ever it is important to protect your health and you can do so by focusing on your nutrition and working on managing stress.

Can Nutrients Be Calming?

Stress is normal to experience, but too much stress can cause adverse symptoms that vary between mental, physical, and emotional symptoms. There are some nutrients, however, that can calm stress responses and lead to better health and nutrition. Beneficial antioxidants are found in numerous fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli, whole grains, and meats.

Your Diet, Lifestyle, & Stress

If you find yourself stressing more than you should, you may need to consider making certain changes to preserve your health. One positive change would be to participate in a Yoga Bronx class led by a professional online or in person, or working with your trainer to do relaxing exercises like yoga during workout sessions.

One of the most important ways to manage your stress is to change your diet, substituting certain foods with others, eliminating some foods entirely, and limiting the consumption of other foods. Some of the foods that you should consider eating include:

Warm Foods

When you’re stressed, you’re going to want to eat foods that have plenty of nutrients in them. Teas and soups are a good example of warm beverages and foods to consume, which can have a relaxing effect on the body. Teas like chamomile can help manage anxiety and increase the release of serotonin as well as dopamine.

Dark Chocolate

Any nutritionist Bronx professional will tell you that sweets are typically not suggested in a proper diet, but moderation and nutrient composition are two key factors that make some sweets beneficial to your diet, such as dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is filled with antioxidants that lower stress reactions in the body.

Bananas

Bananas are rich in potassium and contain chemicals that naturally boost mood by triggering the release of dopamine. Bananas also contain magnesium, which tends to be present in lower quantities in the body when an individual is stressed. Other vitamins are present in bananas as well, benefiting your health.

You can make your diet and nutrition work for you by focusing on the foods you eat and lowering stress by participating in relaxing exercises like yoga or Pilates.