Stressed to the nines?
Chronic stress — which tends to last several weeks or more — takes a major toll on the body.
Not only can it manifest as headaches, fatigue, digestive issues and sleep problems, it can accelerate the aging process.
Like an internal smoke alarm that won’t stop blaring, persistent stress damages cells, increases harmful inflammation and disrupts key processes that repair the body.
Easing that feeling that your body is a volcano ready to burst isn’t always easy. Try starting with your pantry.
Long Island registered dietitian, chef and nutritionist Nicolette Pace offers suggestions for everyday foods that combat three common signs of stress — wrinkles, bloating and brain fog.
Take a hard line on wrinkles
Excess sugar is a significant contributor to aging skin because sugar molecules bind to proteins like collagen and elastin.
This process — called glycation — yields harmful compounds that stiffen and damage these vital skin proteins, leading to a loss of elasticity, the formation of wrinkles, sagging and other signs of premature aging.
Aside from cutting sugar from your diet, Pace recommends combining complete proteins from sources like beef, eggs and chicken with vitamin C-rich foods.
This leads to a “biological cascade” that creates and fortifies collagen, giving structure and strength to your skin, bones, tendons and ligaments.
Get rid of that gas-tly feeling
Stress is one of many potential reasons for bloating, which can also be triggered by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), food intolerances and certain medications.
“Foods with enzymatic, diuretic or elimination-softening properties ease bloat and improve regularity,” Pace told The Post.
She suggests ginger, which contains zingibain; papaya, which features papain; and pineapple, which has bromelain, a mixture of proteolytic enzymes.
These enzymes primarily break down proteins into smaller components like amino acids and peptides, which aid digestion, enhance nutrient absorption and reduce bloating.
Pace also advises consuming celery, which has “natural diuretic qualities while also hydrating GI tissue, softening movement and improving bloat.”
Dew this to lift brain fog
Brain fog isn’t a medical condition — rather, it describes symptoms that affect cognitive clarity, such as difficulty focusing, memory issues and a feeling of mental sluggishness.
“Foods that have shown strong improvement for memory, clarity and focus stem from rich lutein sources, commonly promoted for eye health,” Pace said.
Lutein, an antioxidant in the carotenoid family, reaches the eye and crosses the blood-brain barrier to accumulate in brain tissue.
“Foods rich in lutein are spinach, many dark leafy greens,” Pace said, “as well as orange/yellow carotenoids like carrots, tomatoes, cantaloupe and sweet potatoes.”
Read the full article here
