Eating a healthy diet helps you to deal with stress. Food choices have a big impact on mood and how well your body can cope with life’s stressors. A balanced diet rich in delicious wholefood and fresh fruit and vegetables is not only helpful in dealing with stress but is also essential for achieving the best possible health.

Why is diet so important?

A healthy diet ensures that you receive an adequate amount of protein, carbohydrate from whole foods and essential fatty acids such as oily fish, nuts and seeds. Some foods are best avoided, such caffeine, alcohol, refined carbohydrates and sugar. And don't forget to drink approximately 8 glasses of water a day. See our article  Stress and Hydration – Is there a link? for more information about the importance drinking enough water.

How can a well-balanced, whole food diet help?

As well as helping to:

• Maintain healthy blood sugar levels
• Increase energy and vitality
• Deal with stress better
• Think more clearly

It also helps to:

• Maintain a healthier body weight
• Improve the immune system
• Reduce the risk of developing life changing chronic illnesses

Are You Getting The Best Nutrition From Your Fruit And Veg?

It’s a well-known fact that eating plenty of fruit and vegetables is essential for good health and dealing with stress. They provide a dense supply of vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, antioxidants, fatty acids, fibre and are mostly fat-free and cholesterol free. Statistics from 2011-2012* showed that 48.3% of Australians over 18 years indicated that they met the guidelines for daily fruit intake but only 8.3% met the guidelines for daily vegetable intake.

How can you get the most from your fruit and veg?

• Where possible buy from a local co-op market or choose a local green grocer who can advise you on which food is picked and sent to market fresh.
• Choose organic produce and food where possible.
• Choosing a colourful selection of fruit and vegetables is best to provide a diet rich in nutrients, phytonutrients and antioxidants for optimal health.
• A daily intake of 5 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruits is recommended.
• If it is not possible to access organically grown fruit and vegetable it then becomes important to wash them with a stiff vegetable brush and/or a vegetable wash to remove any water-insoluble residues left on their surface.

 

Janne Ramsay Naturopath

Janne Ramsay is a Naturopath and Nutritionist. She has experience in assessing how stress is effecting your health and providing appropriate and individual nutritional, dietary and lifestyle recommendations so that you can deal with the causes and symptoms of stress and get back to a healthier you. Find out more about Janne here       *Australian Bureau of Statistics. Profile of Health Australia 2011-2-13. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4338.0main+features202011-13