Those who suffer with stress are often told it is all in 'their head', the disparaging nature of the remark is hardly helpful.
In fact that may explain why in developing countries, often only about 30% of people who would benefit from some treatment actually seek help. In my various practices I see people who have long battled with stress as well as patients new to the condition. Pills and medicating stress does not heal the issue, a Lifestyle Medicine approach works on both the causes and effects of chronic stress.
Sleep regulation, sleep optimisation, the correct physical activity and exercise, relaxation strategies are key. I work with clients with a whole body approach to managing Stress.
Most of the time the external factors that cause stress cannot be taken away, so it's our job to make the body resilient physically and mentally to be able to deal better with Stress and it long term impact.
The Gut-Brain alliance refers to the fact that what goes on in your gut affects deeply what goes on in your brain. So if we want to tackle Stress, at its cause, we need to tackle your diet.
Why?
Well, Serotonin is a chemical which undertakes a large number of functions, around memory, learning and happiness. It is this last function that directly relates to stress. The more your body can receive Serotonin, the less likely you are to feel stress.
This is where the gut comes in - since about 95% of serotonin receptors in the body are not found in the brain but instead found in the lining of the gut.
So actually, if someone tries to tell you stress is all in your head, you can respond by letting them know that it is actually all in the gut!
You should therefore not be surprised to learn that specific foods have been shown to reduce stress. Often this is linked to how they react with the gut and its receptors.
If your diet is low in magnesium, the you might find that you are more susceptible to stress and stress related behaviour. Supplements of magnesium are an option, but a better option is to focus on food and meals naturally rich in magnesium - leafy greens, spinach, pak choi legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains all should be on the list.
Other great foods with evidence based research behind them are:
Foods rich in zinc:
Oysters, cashews, chicken liver, beef, and eggs (especially the yolks).
Foods with significant omega-3 fatty acid levels:
Fatty fish like wild Alaskan salmon, Chia seeds and nuts
Probiotic foods:
Pickles, sauerkraut, and kefir
Foods rich in B vitamins:
Avocado and almonds
Fruit juice
Fizzy drinks (including Diet drinks)
Energy Drinks
Alcohol
Fats
Processed Foods
Dr. Salma Mirza, london lifestyle clinic
Chase Lodge Hospital, Page St, London NW7 2ED
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lifestyle doctor