Effects of Stress

Being under sustained stress is an unnatural state for our bodies. When stress levels are maintained for long periods or frequently repeated, cortisol levels can become jammed in high gear. Too much cortisol has the effect of hiking insulin levels, which results in around-the-clock appetite for sweets and fatty foods. It can also cause a drop in the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, leading to depression, irritability and cravings. And if that’s not enough, it also unleashes free radicals that damage body and brain cells.

Stress increases your requirements for nutrients such as the B vitamins, antioxidants like vitamins C and B, iron, magnesium, selenium and zinc. A diet low in these only escalates stress-induced damage to the body.