Nov 05, 2014

Eating well can help to relieve all types of stress. After or during a divorce, you're probably suffering from stress you had no idea was possible. Here's how a healthy diet can help you relieve some of the stress you are experiencing from the divorce.

What Should You Avoid?

There are some things that may seem like they help relieve stress, but they really don't. You should avoid all of the following:

• Caffeine - This is a hard one for people, but multiple cups of coffee a day can cause more stress. Try to cut back to just one or none, if possible.
• Alcohol - If you drink just a small amount, it can help you relax, but if you overdo the alcohol, you will find it disrupts your sleep and can damage your body.
• Sugar - Sugar will raise your energy temporarily, but will also make you crash. This is a big time stress increaser for your body.
• Nicotine - Yes, in the short term it will relieve a little stress, but it will also raise your heart rate and cause unnecessary stress on your body.

These four things should be avoided as much as possible. They all seem good, but they all cause more long term stress than it's worth.

What Should You Eat to Relieve Stress?

While going through a divorce, you can eat a diet high in these vitamins and minerals to help reduce stress:

• Amino Acids - Found in eggs, fish, beans, meat and other protein rich foods, amino acids help to support brain function and influence mood.
• Vitamin C - Found in citrus foods, this antioxidant helps to improve your blood pressure and immunity. It will actually reduce the feeling of stress, as well.
• Vitamin B - This vitamin helps support the adrenal glands and the nervous system. IT can produce energy and help regulate stress.
• Magnesium - This mineral will relax your muscles and help you sleep. It's found in dairy, seafood, green leafy vegetables, tofu, nuts, meat and other protein rich foods.

If you change your diet, while going through a divorce, you can eliminate some of the stress you are feeling. Of course, you won't eliminate it all, but making it manageable can help you live a happy, healthy life.