In the past few years there have been many studies into the benefits of good nutrition and, like many things in life, these studies often contradict each other leaving us wondering where the truth really lies. Generally speaking however there is agreement that a healthy and balanced diet plays an important role in reducing stress. There is also general agreement that, when a diet is not very well balanced, supplements can be helpful. As an example, serotonin is a chemical produced in the brain which aids in inducing calm and, with a poor diet, taking a supplement that helps the brain to produce serotonin will help the body in reducing stress. Timing is however important and, because serotonin levels are normally naturally higher in the morning and lower in the late afternoon, you can help your body by either by taking supplements in the late afternoon or by enjoying a late afternoon snack which will help the body's natural production of serotonin. Try a baked potato or some pretzels, both of which are healthy and low in fat. For a few individuals excessive eating, especially of foods that are high in fat, is the solution to stress. However, high fat foods tend to inhibit or slow down serotonin levels and so frequently have the opposite effect to that which you want. yet another side effect of over-eating is that of weight gain and, as a growing number of people are finding nowadays, being overweight is a sure road to stress and even to depression. The solution is thus both a sensible and balanced diet and a reasonable amount of exercise. Eating sensibly and exercising will have the combined benefits of both reducing the production of stress-inducing chemicals by the body and of improving the way you look and feel, which will certainly lift your mood and provide you with a sound barrier against stress. One other thing to look out for is the habit many of us have of missing meals. When you are stressed you will often find that this depresses your appetite and it is a very matter to begin missing meals. Stressed or not, set yourself a regular routine for mealtimes and then stick to it. In addition, try to make mealtimes into a 'break' in your day and leave your problems to one side while you are eating. Use this as time, specifically set aside to relax and to focus your mind on the good things of life. You will undoubtedly find that when you have finished your meal the world will be far calmer.
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