Living in Dubai can be very stressful and we usually turn to food to feel better - chocolate comes to mind here. But did you know that there are some foods that actually cause you stress and contribute to your anxiety?
Here, I have listed 7 foods and drinks that you should avoid if you want to destress.
01/ White flour.
White flour is processed and stripped from the fiber-rich layers in it. As a result, it gets absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. It can cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels, which in turn releases cortisol in the body causing stress. To reduce your consumption of white flour which is in a lot of baked goods, switch to healthy whole grain products and brown rice.
02/ Salt.
Salt may be a great flavor addition to your meals, but too much sodium leads to fluid retention, hypertension, and high blood pressure. The result? More stress on your heart. Try to reduce your sodium intake to keep your stress levels low, but this doesn’t only mean salt; it means paying attention to the sodium content of the food you buy and making sure you don’t consume more than 2.3g of sodium per day.
03/ Sugar.
Like salt, sugar is also a stress trigger. Continuous consumption of high-sugar foods and drinks like soft drinks and desserts causes unstable blood sugar levels. This puts stress on your body and increases the levels of cortisol, aka “stress hormone.” As a result, you feel anxious and stressed out.
04/ Caffeine.
Do you know what else increases your cortisol levels? It’s caffeine. Besides that, consuming caffeine-rich drinks leads to high blood pressure and accelerated heartbeats linked with anxiety. Caffeine also blocks the absorption of vitamins B and D, which are nutrients that boost your mood. Finally, too much caffeine means a lack of sleep, which in turn results in fatigue-induced stress. You can also take a food intolerance test in Dubai, which will help you avoid food and beverages that are not suitable for your body.
