It’s 2pm. The day is in full swing. Your head droops towards the floor into your open hand. Running your thumb and forefinger firmly along opposing sides of your temples produces an involuntary grimace that contorts your face as if an attempt to scare away the day’s worries. Your mind wanders toward an escape from the stressors that are running rampant. Mmm, a doughnut left over from breakfast might do the trick. Maybe another cup of coffee will recharge things. That candy bar hiding in the desk drawer wouldn’t be bad either. Will any of these options offer escape or might they just exacerbate the tension?
It’s inevitable that each day will bring forth challenges and stressors that can result in tremendous tension. Life throws all sorts of obstacles your way; the last thing you need to do is worsen the tension by polluting your body’s internal system with poor food choices. There are three simple questions one must ask when choosing foods during stressful periods: 1. Why am I eating? 2. What foods should I eat? 3. What foods should I avoid?
WHY AM I EATING?
Eating can be triggered by a multitude of factors other than hunger. If you were to analyze the intricate chemistry of the human body, it is apparent how stressful situations set off a cascade of hormones that can result in an unexpected calorie binge. Problems arise when we consistently give in to this hormonal calling and begin to depend on food as our escape from the tension of life.
Jane, one of my clients, has experienced this negative eating pattern firsthand. Multiple times she’s discussed with me how challenging it is to not reach for a quick and easy comfort food when the day turns stressful. I reinforce with her that allowing your body’s hormones to lead you to eat calorie-dense foods can lead to weight gain. Excess weight increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, and multiple cancers. Carrying extra physical weight takes quite a toll, but accumulating emotional baggage just might be even more treacherous. Ahead, we’ll look at foods that tame the “overeat hormones” and strategies for avoiding emotional eating.
Using food as an emotional crutch is an extremely unhealthy habit to adopt. Delicious food acts as an easy escape from life’s problems. Focusing on eating rather than dealing with a stressful situation can develop into a vicious cycle. Tension leads to bad food choices, bad food choices lead to more tension, more tension results in more overeating, and so on and so on. This cycle threatens our emotional stability and can wreak havoc on personal spirituality.
Through years of counseling clients, I’ve discovered that personal spirituality can play a large role in helping one deal with stress, worry, and anxiety without compromising healthy nutritional efforts. For example, the Bible says to cast all your anxiety on God because He cares about you so much. If someone truly believes that God loves them, they can release their negative emotions to Him. The spiritual danger of consistent emotional eating comes as a result of drowning stress and tension in calories rather than bringing those emotions to God. Food is innocent and meant to be one of the natural pleasures of life. Only when our relationship with food is distorted, do we encounter potentially serious issues that threaten our spiritual health. For all facets of your health, it’s important to stay vigilant against the deception of emotional eating.
Here are four practical ways to squash emotion-driven eating and reduce daily tension.
1. Analyze your hunger. Ask yourself, “Is my brain or stomach craving food?”
2. Stay focused. When you feel tension increasing as your tasks pile up, stand up, stretch, have a glass of water, and refocus on the task at hand.
3. Remove temptation. Simply put – you won’t eat what you don’t have. Don’t keep unhealthy foods in your bag, at your office, or in your car.
4. Pray. Ask God everyday for discernment between true hunger and emotional cravings, as well as discipline to resist the temptation when it arises.
It’s 2pm again. The day is in full swing. The tension is mounting as a million things throttle toward you. Your head droops towards the floor into your open hand and . . . you pray a silent prayer. Suddenly, you experience peace and better understand the cravings that gnaw at your brain. Later, with your tension released and delicious food on your plate, you’ll bow your head one more time and thank God for the guilt-free meal you’re about to savor. But what foods should be included in that meal? Or, what would be a healthy snack to help tame those “overeat hormones?”
WHAT FOODS SHOULD I EAT?
The basic components of quality nutrition are the best solution for 99% of scenarios. It’s no different with choosing foods during times of high stress and tension. While it may not sound quite exotic enough, the best recommendations are fruits, vegetables, quality protein, essential fats, and whole grains. Each of these foods work together to maintain a stable environment within your body, resulting in consistent energy levels, reduced cravings, ease of concentration, proper digestion, and adequate recovery. Here’s a little more specificity to help along the way.
– Broccoli, oranges, bell peppers, papayas, cantaloupe, and tomatoes are all rich in everyone’s favorite nutrient: Vitamin C! Research has shown that vitamin C helps reduce the physical and psychological effects of stress, as well as encouraging quicker recovery from stressful situations.
– Soybeans, 100% whole grains, leafy greens, and nuts are good sources of what has been dubbed the “Anti-Stress Mineral”: Magnesium. Magnesium helps to relax muscles, regulate your heart rhythm, improve quality of sleep, and plays a vital role in the functioning of your nervous system.
– Almonds, walnuts, flax seeds, and most seafood provide the body with essential fatty acids (or EFAs). I often like to call EFAs nature’s miracle workers. Research with EFAs has shown improved mood, more stable blood sugar levels, possibly reduced inflammation, and potentially strengthened immunity.
For almost all of the above nutrients, there is tremendous nutrient crossover. The point is – don’t overcomplicate things. Just be sure to reach for fruits, vegetables, nuts, 100% whole grains, and/or lean meats. You can’t go wrong. Well, actually you can go wrong. It’s time to look at what foods are on the opposing side against the nutrient rich, anti-stress foods.
WHAT FOODS SHOULD I AVOID?
The list of foods you should eat all had one thing in common; they promote a stable environment within your body, which helps it perform at peak function. Using simple logic, it’s easy to predict that the opposite will be true for the foods to avoid. The following foods have the potential to increase tension, worsen stress, and trigger the “overeat hormones” resulting in emotional eating.
– Highly processed foods can truly pollute your internal environment. Carbs are the great double-edged sword. Consuming processed carbohydrates can result in extreme energy swings, drowsiness, lack of concentration, and uncontrollable cravings. A quick practical list of processed foods to avoid includes: crackers, chips, candy, any bread or grain product that is not 100% whole, most granola bars, cereal, and canned fruit or fruit juice that has added sugar.
– Caffeine is America’s favorite stimulant. The problem is not with moderate consumption, but with excessive intake. Consuming too much caffeine actually mimics stress to the body. Two to three (8 oz) cups of coffee per day is considered average. Problems tend to arise when people become dependent and consistently increase their intake. Be sure to monitor yourself and avoid the pitfall of consistently increasing your consumption.
– Stress can easily zap your energy, weaken your immune system, and possibly lead to depression. Too much alcohol can do the exact same things. One to two drinks per day is what many consider moderate alcohol consumption. Again, problems are on the horizon when alcohol consumption begins to consistently rise and impact your ability to complete vital daily tasks.
The tension and stressors of a rough day are enough by themselves. Don’t pour gas on the fire by munching on sugary processed foods, sucking down huge amounts of caffeine, and then finishing your day with a few too many cocktails. Make smart decisions with these three, you’ll be happy you did!
WORTHLESS INFORMATION
You have just read a bunch of worthless information. All of the tips, facts, and suggestions in this article will not become valuable until you apply them. Everyone’s heard the famous axiom – “Knowledge is power.” I disagree. Knowledge is simply information. Discipline is power! Discipline to consistently implement the knowledge you gained from reading this article can and will change an aspect of your life. That is power. Changing your life is powerful. As a Christian, I believe we should have and serve only one Master. Take control, apply the information you’ve learned, and refuse to let tension, stress, and food be the master of your day any longer.
For more articles and resources to help you eat healthy go to our NUTRITION DEPARTMENT.
