Compass Rose Nutrition & Wellness
Blog
With Gaylene Gomez
The Holiday season has to be the hardest few weeks to stick to a healthy eating lifestyle. There is constant temptation by sweets, treats and just way to much food in general.
I would like to share a few tips with you that have helped me in the past to stay on track between now and the end of the year so you can maintain your weight, or maybe even shed some!
The holidays are among us – a time of year that’s known for being busy and being constantly busy can lead to quite the load of stress.
You likely already have several invitations to gatherings collecting on your counter, a long list of people you need to send holiday cards to, and the daunting task of braving the shopping mall crowds to find the gifts for your loved ones. All of this, on top of your normal every day life. It can be overwhelming to say the least.
I wanted to share with you some of my favorite ways to navigate this busy, stressful time of year and make this holiday season a lot more enjoyable and less stressful so that you can look back on this holiday with happy memories.
No question that what you eat can affect how you feel, right?
Mental health and brain health are complex. So are the foods we eat, and the ways our bodies interact with those foods. While, we don't know the exact mechanisms how food and nutrition help, we know a few ways food impacts our moods.
First, what we eat becomes the raw materials for our neurotransmitters. “Neurotransmitters” are biochemical messengers that allow our nerve cells to communicate (ever heard of serotonin?). They are important not just for thinking and memory, but also for mental health.
Second, what we eat affects our blood sugar. And having unstable blood sugar levels can contribute to mood swings. (I know I have experienced this many times)
Let’s talk about mood-boosting and mood-busting foods.
We all have some level of stress, right?
It may be temporary (acute), or long-term (chronic).
Acute stress usually won’t mess with your health too much. It is your body’s natural reaction to circumstances, and can even be life-saving.
Then, when the “threat” (a.k.a. “stressor”) is gone, the reaction subsides, and all is well.
It's the chronic stress that's a problem. You see, your body has specific stress reactions. If these stress reactions are triggered every day or many times a day that can mess with your health.
Stress (and stress hormones) can have a huge impact on your health.
Let's dive into the "stress mess."
