What Is The Relationship Between Stress And Nutritional Deficiencies?

Do you feel drained and stressed all the time, or at least for half of the day? If yes, then trust me; you are not the only one suffering. There are a lot of people who are going on that road with you. The pressure of work, school, relationships, and finances these days are the main cause of all the pressure and stress. Moreover, the distress of the Covid-19 pandemic is a new addition to the list of these devastating causes. There are 3 types of stress people go through Acute, Episodic, and Chronic. Acute stress comes for a brief period of time; Episodic comes in frequent little episodes and goes, while chronic stays with you forever. No matter what type of stress you are going through, it will always be devastating.

However, have you ever heard about stress causing a direct effect on nutrition, or simply saying, causing nutritional deficiencies? Yes, we have heard this too. That is why we felt the need to come up with this post and help you find the relationship between stress and nutritional deficiencies in detail. Keep Reading; you will surely get your answer!

Relationship Between Stress and Nutritional Deficiencies

Stress, whether it is chronic, acute, or episodic, can badly affect your eating patterns. With that being said, it affects your nutritional values too. When you are extremely stressed, the digestive system of your body either slows down or becomes too efficient. This means you will have to face one of these two conditions; Constipation or Diarrhea. Eventually, your body won't be able to absorb enough nutrients from the food and cause nutritional deficiencies. After a nutritional deficiency, your body will have to suffer from various problems like weakness, extreme fatigue, anemia, and tons of skin problems.

Moreover, you tend to eat a lot of junk and unhealthy food like chocolates, burgers, pizzas, etc. Why? Well, because stress increases the demand for food in your body, and junk is always considered as comfort food, right? However, as yummy as these food items are, they are still unhealthy and full of fats. Eventually, if you are not opting for a healthy diet and not getting the right amount of vitamins and nutrients, you will face a nutritional deficiency.

Important Nutrients for Stress

Here is a list of some essential nutrients that you should never miss, especially when you are stressed:

1. Carbohydrates (Lentils, Fruits & Vegetables, Whole Grains)

2. Proteins (Fish, Chicken, Eggs, Turkey, Milk)

3. Antioxidants (Spinach, Citrus Fruits, Carrots, Berries)

4. Vitamin B and Omega 3

Final Words

Stress and Nutrition always go side by side, and they do have a direct relationship between them. If you are stressed, you are most likely to have a nutritional deficiency. Therefore, make sure you focus on your diet and nutrition, especially during stressful days. Eat a healthy diet and try to avoid junk at all times. Trust me; a healthy diet and body will help you fight the stress like a PRO!