Stressed and thinking young woman in home office using laptop
It is already known that psychological stress is the cause of many illnesses, but it is also the reason why we start to have poor eating habits. Researchers have found that stress leads to increased production of neuropeptides (such as ghrelin or somatostatin) and neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin). These excess secreted substances affect appetite and result in an increased tendency to eat high-fat foods.
But there are ways of dealing with these problems. Multiple studies have shown how beneficial nutrition interventions are for the management and treatment of depression. Specialist Radu Baila, certified doctor of CHIP, dnalife®, specialized and certified in Lifestyle Medicine, Precision Medicine and member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, tells us more about how we can fight stress through lifestyle modification during the second conference of the Longevity program, initiated by the Scientific Senate of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania.
Dr Radu Baila points out that plant foods can help manage stress and other psychological conditions. For example, a high-fibre diet promotes a gut microbial profile associated with good physical and mental health.
Stress and sleep
There is also a reciprocal relationship between stress and sleep, it is recommended that people sleep between 7 and 9 hours a night. Factors that impair sleep quality are physical activity, caffeine consumption and exposure to night light, i.e. blue light, before bedtime.
Why we need to reduce coffee consumption
We can drink coffee, but it is recommended to stop drinking it no later than the afternoon. Stress is also associated with increased alcohol, drug and tobacco consumption. Researchers have observed, in the context of COVID-19, a phenomenon called: Behavioural Immune System, which includes psychological processes (aversion, impulsivity) that increase the risk of infection.