Patricia Thompson - NUTRITION TALK THE MAIN cry today from busy and active persons is 'too much stress'. There is just too much to accomplish in any one day and they claim that stress saps their energy and prevents them from having the best of the work world as well as the recreation world.
Stressful situations have always been a part of life, but what makes the difference is how we respond to stress that is, how we are able to cope. We must prepare ourselves physically, physiologically and psychologically to cope effectively with stress. All three of these areas depend on a good foundation with nutrition.
Physical activity is the most appropriate response to stress as the body prepares itself for the 'flight or fight' response and good nutrition is essential for meeting these demands. Physical activity is fuelled by the energy in the foods we eat.
EAT TOO MUCH
However, just the right amount of energy is needed. When we eat too much food, it is like a motor car whose engine has been flooded with too much gasolene. The engine will not turn over and the car is sluggish. We need the right amount of fuel to get the engine revving. Refuelling should be done at correct intervals in the correct amounts to get the best performance. Persons should therefore have a regular intake of food, with appropriate timing and spacing of meals to ensure a ready supply of energy to meet individual needs.
In the same way that gasolene alone will not keep the car's engine running (it also needs the support of engine oil, battery water and so on), the body requires a range of nutrients to burn the energy from food. Without an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals, food energy will be underutilised, resulting in a lack of vitality, while the fuel will be stored as fat thereby contributing to a sluggish feeling. Some vitamins and minerals also have special detoxifying properties and act as antioxidants to get rid of the waste in our bodies just as the motor car has an exhaust to get rid of toxic fumes.
Waste is a by-product of the various metabolic activities occurring in the body constantly such as respiration and digestion. These by products can form toxic substances known as free radicals that cause cell damage, deterioration of the body substances and premature ageing. Our bodies have a natural way of getting rid of these free radicals but we need an ample supply of antioxidant enzymes, vitamins and minerals obtained from wholesome foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Poor eating habits also result in the digestive stress of gas, indigestion and ulcers.
PRE-MENSTURAL
Psychological stress manifests itself in many ways such as migraine and hyperactivity, pre-menstrual tension, skin eruptions and also anxiety and depression. The incidence and severity of these conditions can all be reduced with good nutrition. Persons misuse food to cope with stress thus over-consuming caffeine, sugar, salt, fat and alcohol which only add to their stress. 'Comfort eating' especially on high calorie foods will lead to obesity. It is now well-accepted that these are all dietary risk factors for chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease and so on.
A person's nutritional status therefore plays a major role in determining the capacity to cope with stress. A well-nourished body will respond favourably and such a person usually avoids ill health but a malnourished person with faulty eating behaviour will become fatigued and succumb to distress and the ravages of ill health.
Patricia Thompson M.Sc., Registered Nutritionist, Eden Gardens.
