What is stress? We all suffer from it and in fact could not function without it.  But if we are under stress, this can be a problem.  Excess stress occurs when the situation places demands on a person which exceed that person’s resources or ability to cope with the situation. 

Longer term consequences include depression, mental health problems, heart and cardiovascular problems, digestive problems, blood sugar problems and diabetes.

Stress has three definite stages.  First there is the Alarm stage, where the body produces adrenaline resulting in the ‘fight or flight’ response, the familiar example being given as the physiological reaction we would feel if we were stuck in a field with an angry bull.  Luckily angry bulls don’t corner most of us too often but if this alarm stage continues, whatever the stressor be it work, relationships, money or so on, eventually the body will enter the Resistance Stage.  This is the body’s coping mechanism, its resources being gradually eroded leading to the Exhaustion Stage.  In this final stage we are no longer coping, resulting in longer term damage and a compromised immune system, leaving us open to bacterial or viral infections.

It could be said that any imbalance, be it in our workload, empowerment in relationships or indeed nutritional imbalances, can create stress. Many of our imbalances are outside our control, but happily nutrition is one of the few controllable factors

Stress often leads to unhealthy eating habits such as relying on junk foods, skipping meals and relying on caffeine.  When the body neglects good nutrition, blood sugar imbalances often result, leading to a sudden urge to eat and often cravings for sugary foods when the body seeks a quick fix. Imbalances in blood sugar lead to tiredness, lapses of concentration and mood swings.  Stress also makes the body crave foods that are high in fats and sugars which, in time, will inflict a greater stress on the body.

Caffeine, if our blood sugar is low, can make us feel wonderful.  It causes the release of adrenaline.  However the result is temporary, leaving us feeling tired and depleted once the adrenaline has worn off.

During times of stress our adrenal glands use up lots of B vitamins as well as Vitamin C, which has an important role in supporting immune system function.  After prolonged stress, the mineral Magnesium is often low.  Magnesium is needed for a variety of functions such as muscle relaxation, fatty acid balance, and blood pressure control and heartbeat regulation.

There is a strong business case for stress management within the workplace.  Simply put, people who feel well perform better than people who feel ill.  Stress often makes the sufferer feels disempowered, whilst simple dietary changes can not only make people feel better but help them to feel more in control of their situation.

Cathy Robinson offers personal nutritional coaching as well as employee wellbeing training within the workplace.  Contact Cathy Robinson at cathy.robinson65@gmail.com