Stressful events occur throughout the day and they often go unnoticed by us. Stuck in traffic, being late for work, an encounter with an angry customer, a fight at home, all are stressful events. Even a negative thought about something bad that happened years ago can produce the same result. Research suggests that when we are stuck in traffic we produce enough adrenalin to run a mile.
If you combine a single negative thought with low blood sugar then adrenalin really starts pumping. This results in the body using energy otherwise utilised to repair itself and instead all energy goes into constantly pumping out hormones to control blood sugar levels that you don't need to use. Because of this we become tired, irritable, can't sleep, etc., etc.
To compensate for the loss in energy we turn to stimulants such as sugar, coffee, tea, chocolate, and alcohol. Smoking also increases for those who smoke. These are things that need to be cut out of our diet and replaced with foods that I described in yesterday's post. So how do you give these addictive substances up?
The answer is, 'slowly'. If you cut everything out all at once your body will over-compensate for the reduction and guess what, you are back to producing even more adrenalin. As we have discussed, it takes 40 to 80 days to change a habit. Eating the wrong foods can also be a habit (and a craving) so it is going to take you a while.
Don’t despair though if you can’t give up some of these stimulants, that will only add to your stress levels and to producing even greater amounts of adrenalin.
Here are a few more dietary tips to help you overcome the use of stimulants;
- Unrefined, slow-releasing whole carbohydrate foods such as wholegrains, vegetables, and fruit.
- Combine carbohydrates with protein-rich foods.
- Eat regularly at the same time each day and don’t skip a meal.