For lots of people, when under pressure, the first instinct might be to reach for a quick snack or caffeinated beverages (energy-boosting drink inclusive) to help them power through their tasks. Unfortunately, most of the foods most people tend to turn to for help, actually cause more harm than good, increasing anxiety levels instead of relieving them. Here are five foods that you must totally avoid the next time you’re feeling stressed.
1. COFFEE
This is the first beverage almost everyone goes for, simply because coffee has high amounts of caffeine, and will provide an energy boost which often makes people feel better. However, research has shown that drinking coffee throughout the day can cause you to experience fluctuations in energy and alertness. According to Stephen Cherniske, author of Caffeine Blues, “caffeine can cause your body to be in a state called “caffeinism,”.
When you’re in this state, you’re likely to feel anxious, irritable, depressed, and tired — none of which will have a positive impact on your stress levels. While the caffeine in coffee may cause you to feel instantly alert (temporal feeling), soon after, you’ll experience a caffeine crash, which can cause you to feel even more stressed out.
2. ENERGY DRINKS
Energy drinks contain both caffeine and sugar. No doubt they provide an energy boost, but the effects last for a short while and then quickly wear off. Taking energy drinks when your stress levels are high is like adding a dynamic duo of trouble to the equation. A combination of both caffeine jitters and the sugar crash will definitely increase the amount of stress you’re under. Another important fact that you must take note of is that, caffeine stimulates your nervous system (which can also increase your blood pressure) there by leading to a rapid heartbeat, and cause you to feel jittery.
Too much caffeine can also affect your sleep, thus causing you to feel even more stressed out and leaving you exhausted both mentally and physically. Furthermore, when you’re exhausted, you’re prone to be more easily agitated and less patient, both of which can increase your stress levels.
So instead of chugging down an energy drink, the next time you’re facing a never-ending to-do list, reach for a calming cup of green tea instead and save yourself from more anxiety.
3. ALCOHOL
Alcohol is a strict no no when you’re feeling stressed out. Although lot’s of people turn to alcohol to relieve their stress, the fact is that it might actually increase the sensation of stress and anxiety. Alcohol stimulates the production of a hormone called cortisol, which makes people feel more stressed. According to Emma Childs, research associate at The University of Chicago, stress can also change how alcohol makes a person feels: it can reduce the pleasant effects of alcohol or increase the craving for more alcohol.