Stress is a commonly encountered problem in society, and although stress can be beneficial, chronic exposure to stress can significantly affect the health of the individual. As stress is almost completely unavoidable, most individuals are exposed to at least some stress. Stress is currently considered a contributory factor in mental health problems, and may be a contributory factor in the development of a number of western lifestyle diseases. Individuals can use nutrition to cope with stress and maybe people do this without realising. For example, increasing the carbohydrate content of the diet, particularly of the quickly digested variety, can significantly increase the tryptophan concentrations in the brain, and this in turn can increase brain serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with contentment, and this strategy may therefore be a coping mechanism to remove the uneasy feeling of stress. However, use of this strategy in the long term can increase the risk of insulin resistance, which may lead to weight gain.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself
RdB
