Work demands, family, social life – with so much going on in our lives it can be hard to find that ever so talked about work-life balance.

It’s no wonder that many of us feel the effects of stress. While a small amount of stress can be motivating to get organised, large amounts of stress can be debilitating.

Stress and your body

Effects of stress on your body

• Digestive system

• Immune System

• Nervous system

• Cardiovascular system

• Good nutrition is key in times of stress. Although you may lose your appetite, make the effort to eat well. Since stress already messes with your immune and digestive system, poor eating habits will exacerbate this.
   
• Avoid too much coffee. Coffee can seem like your saviour, giving you an energy boost to keep going. However stick to 2-3 cups a day only (this is single shot coffee too for those that love your latte’s) as more than this can further increase irritability, disrupt sleeping and aggravate your digestive system.  
   
• Eat the right kinds of fat. With stress increasing blood pressure and blood lipids you need to pay extra attention to your heart's health, which means staying away from saturated fats, and eating fats from good sources such as olive oil, avocado, and nuts. Omega-3 fats are also good for looking after the health of your blood, so try and include salmon, tuna or flaxseed in your diet.
   
• Go for low GI carbohydrates. Although you may feel like chocolate or something high sugar for a pick me up, these foods will give you a short boost but leave you feeling more drained shortly after.
   
• Keep healthy by making sure you eat lots of vegetables and fruit.

• Remember, even if you don’t feel like eating or cooking, make the effort, as under stress you can’t afford not to look after yourself.
   

Nicola

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