Research suggests that people who follow a diet high in ultra-processed foods and added sugar are more likely to experience higher perceived stress levels.
By OLUFUNKE
The weather is so cold now, and the urge to drink water is no longer there.
I wanted to have my bath recently and noticed that my urine was extremely yellowish in colour. I started ruminating on what could be the cause. Then, it dawned on me that I had not drunk water at all the previous day!
Cold and even room-temperature water do not appeal to me, but I found out that warm water does. So, I take warm water now.
You must stay hydrated at all times; your body needs it.
It has become a Sunday ritual for me to check Punch newspaper’s Facebook page to see readers’ reactions to my articles and also take note of their questions.
Last week was a bit hectic because I had to reply to almost everyone due to their confusion about efo ebolo, which I said was used for treating kidney disease, and the plant on my logo.
The plant on my logo is Launaea taraxacifolia. It is known as efo yanrin in Yoruba. It is native to Africa. It is not a dandelion as people call it.
Dandelion is Taraxacum officinale, and it is not native to Africa.
The similarity between Launaea taraxacifolia and Taraxacum officinale is that they are both in the family Asteraceae.
Last week, we started discussions on stress. Let us proceed.
Our body’s response to stressors can sometimes be helpful, giving us a burst of energy to get away from danger or perform well under pressure, explains Michelle Dossett, MD, PhD, MPH, an internist and integrative medicine specialist at the University of California, Davis.
Yes, this is actually true because there is good stress, also known as eustress. It motivates and energises us, enhancing performance and personal growth. It is typically short-term and associated with positive life events or challenges that we feel equipped to handle.
Long-term stressors have a different effect. “Stress that lasts years or a long time is usually the worst kind of stress,” says Bert Uchino, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City who studies stress in ageing populations.
Some of the ways to manage stress are:
Spend time in nature
A review of 14 studies found that spending as little as 10 minutes in a natural setting may help improve psychological and physiological markers of mental well-being, including perceived stress, in college-aged people. Even in an urban area, you can seek out green spaces such as botanical gardens.
Get more physical activity
A six-week study of 185 university students found that participating in aerobic exercise two days per week significantly reduced overall perceived stress and perceived stress due to uncertainty.
Eat a balanced diet
A 2022 review of research suggests that people who follow a diet high in ultra-processed foods and added sugar are more likely to experience higher perceived stress levels.
Additionally, being chronically stressed may lead you to overeat and consume more ultra-processed foods.
If you do not eat enough nutrient-dense whole foods, you may increase your risk of deficiencies in nutrients essential for regulating stress and mood, such as magnesium and B vitamins.