When I get stressed out, the first thing I reach for is chocolate. Then I would probably have a glass of wine when I get home from work during the week. But it seems those things and a few more, actually make our stress levels worse. These increase what is called cortisol … so these are the things to avoid when feeling stressed and why… And yes, I know – easier said then done.
Energy Drinks
Full of caffeine and sugar, energy drinks and caffeinated colas are some of the worst foods for stress, Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D., author of author of The Flexitarian Diet, told HuffPost.
"That dynamic duo of trouble ... the combination of both the caffeine jitters and the sugar crash, that can be taxing on your body, so it does add stress," she says.
Spicy Foods
If you're experiencing stress-related digestive troubles, steer clear of spicy foods that might aggravate the discomfort.
People who get stressed easily are not able to process food as well, Bauer explains. "[Stress] slows down metabolism and makes it harder to digest food, so food sits in stomach for longer. This leads to things like acid reflux, and spicy food then could make that worse
Candy & Sweets
People often turn to treats when they're stressed, but sugar only contributes to higher levels of stress hormones. "We go naturally to the wrong foods because they increase levels of cortisol," Bauer says.
The blood sugar and insulin spikes that accompany the consumption of refined sugar can also lead to crashes, irritability and increased food cravings.
Alcohol
A glass of wine can calm you down, right? Wrong. Alcohol stimulates the release of cortisol, according to a 2008 study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The study found that heavy drinkers and those who had recently increased their drinking had higher levels of the stress hormone.
Alcohol and stress "feed" each other, according to University of Chicago research published in 2011 in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. People may turn to alcohol to dampen the emotional effects of stress, but it turns out that stress actually reduces the intoxicating effects of alcohol, according to the research.
Coffee Drinks
For the same reasons, sweet coffee drinks -- like vanilla lattes and mochas, which are made with sugary syrups and espresso -- can also increase stress levels.
"A lot of people, if they're feeling panicked at 3:00 with all the work they have left to do, make matters way worse by going to Starbucks and getting a sugary coffee drink, which makes them highly agitated, even more so than they were," Blatner
Processed Foods
High in sodium, fat and artificial additives (not to mention that they add little-to-no nutritional value), the processed foods we turn to for a little comfort can actually increase stress levels.
"The foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt are the foods that directly increase our cortisol levels," Bauer says. "That's what we crave when we are stressed, as a result."
French Fries
The high carb and fat content of french fries may provide a quick energy fix, but will only lead to a crash later on. And aside from the obvious hypertension risk of eating lots of high-sodium foods, French fries are also a common culprit for stress-eating -- which is never good, in the long run, for stress, according to Bauer.
"Whether it's french fries, potato chips or Doritos, anything that's high in salt would be considered a mindless munching sort of food," she says.
Gum & Sugar-Free Candies
According to Blatner, chewing gun and eating artificially sweetened candies could exacerbate stress-related digestive issues, which can in turn lead to irritability.
"[Foods that cause bloating] may not make you stressed out but it makes you feel uncomfortable, and being uncomfortable makes you stressed out," Blatner explains. "It makes you feel more irritated."
