The Problem!
The scientific evidence is clear. Ongoing stress can hurt you by elevating stress hormones and promoting cellular inflammation and oxidation. And, it’s no fun either, because the result of these processes in your body is a higher likelihood for cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. And, a lower likelihood for healthy aging. As you can guess, poor nutrition choices contribute to ongoing stress. To learn more, here is a list of some big offenders.
The Solution!
The good news is clear, too. You can reduce your stress with good nutrition & a smart grocery cart. It’s not all that hard actually. As a starting point emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, fatty fish, nuts and lean meat products and byproducts including dairy. At the same time, de-emphasize foods with trans fats, sugary foods, fatty animal products and byproducts including dairy, and refined grains. In addition to good nutrition in your smart grocery cart, there may be other solutions to stress management for you. Here is a nice list of extra stress busters.
What to Emphasize in Your Smart Grocery Cart!
1. Fruits and vegetables – Sweet Bell peppers, oranges, leafy kale, leafy Swiss chard, broccoli, grapefruit, apples, pears, berries, cabbage.
2. Whole grains – oatmeal, whole wheat bread, whole wheat spaghetti, quinoa, barley, brown rice, corn tortillas.
3. Healthy fats – olive oil, nuts & nut butters, fresh or canned salmon, tuna, sardines, walnuts, ground flaxseeds.
4. Lean animal products – skinless chicken and turkey, pork tenderloin, beef sirloin roast or steak, 1% or fat free milk, yogurt, kefir probiotic drinkable yogurt and cottage cheese.
What to Emphasize in Your Kitchen!
1. Lower sugar desserts – cut up apple or orange, fruit and yogurt layered parfait, homemade pumpkin pie, homemade pumpkin muffin, homemade apple crisp
2. Simple snacks – cut up pear, oatmeal with raisins and walnuts, carrots dipped into peanut butter, celery dipped into hummus
3. Meals at home – families benefit from eating more meals at home with a healthy example in place.
Reduce Your Stress with Good Nutrition & A Smart Grocery Cart!
Don’t stress out. Don’t wait to take action. Join me for daily tips on facebook and get started by LIKING here. Read my weekly blog. Subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter. Explore my easy-to-use ebooks. All of these resources will help you move little-by-little to a healthier place for you and those you care about most…deliciously!
Great solution Cindy, I find as a general rule you can get just about everything you need by sticking to the outside of the grocery store. Typically all the junk is put in the middle aisles.
Appreciate your comment, Dale! Yep, there are many basic foods with rich nutrient content around the outside of the grocery store. But, don’t miss the inside aisles for whole grains, canned no salt added veggies, dried fruits, tea, baking nuts, flaxseeds, and more. There are nutritious finds in every aisle for a good nutrition sleuth:)