Day 7 – Are You Eating Yourself Miserable?

Welcome to your De-Stress Your Christmas Advent Calendar count-down – day 5! Today we’re looking at how what you’re eating can have a massive impact on your emotions.

Is What You’re Eating Trashing Your Christmas Spirit?

It’s Christmas, so obviously you’re going to want to enjoy your food, but if you notice you’re getting really sluggish, feeling stressed and generally down, then it might be nothing to do with your head. Here are 5 common food traps that might end up wrecking your mood.

Trap 1: Sugar

Reaching for something sweet when we’re feeling low is so instinctive; you’d almost think it’s hard-wired.
Carbohydrates and refined sugars will give us a short-term boost, but the blood sugar low we get afterwards can lead to mood swings and even tantrums in kids.

What you could do instead?
University researchers have shown that cravings for sweet foods, particularly the late night munchies, are actually cravings for water – we’re not very good at reading the signs.

To balance your blood sugar, half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder each day can help.

Trap 2: Caffeine

It’s in coffee, tea, cola drinks and plenty more besides. Caffeine is a stimulant that can take us into “fight or flight” mode, making us edgy and irritable. So if you’re already stressed or angry, it’s the last thing you need.

What you could do instead?
To rehydrate your system and give yourself an instant energy boost, a glass of cool water could make a difference. If you’re feeling tense and irritable, you might prefer camomile tea. And, of course, there’s breathing – take 3 deep breaths, breathing in through your nose. Fill your lungs from your stomach upwards and then breathe out through your mouth with a sigh. It works!

Trap 3: Sweeteners & Additives

We think we’re doing the right thing by going for the low-cal, low-fat options, but they have to do something to replace the taste and texture you’d have had from the sugars and fats. Unfortunately this is often in the form of sweeteners and chemical additives.
The various food agencies have approved their use, but there is growing research evidence that they can impact your mood.
One of the leading artificial sweeteners is now official linked with mood swings and even depression, for regular users. And we’ve known for years that the infamous “e-numbers” can cause behavioural problems in children.

What you could do instead?
Check labels in the supermarket. As a rule of thumb, if there’s an ingredient on the list that you wouldn’t cook with at home, think twice before putting it into your basket.
Consider buying the non-diet versions, but eating less of them…

Trap 4: Alcohol

How many times do we get to the end of a tough day and think, “I could really do with a glass of wine / a beer?”
And there has been research showing that some alcoholic drinks can have health benefits, in moderation.
But alcohol itself is a toxin to the body. And even in just moderate quantities, it’s also a depressant that suppresses brain activity and dehydrates your body. So if you want to feel happier, a stiff drink is probably not the best place to start.

What you could do instead?
Drink a glass of water between each alcoholic drink, to reduce your thirst and help your liver and kidneys process the alcohol. And it might be worth taking an honest look in the mirror, to see whether there are underlying issues you might need to address.

Trap 5: Wheat & dairy

Wheat and dairy products are fine for most people, in moderation. But if you have a food intolerance, you might find that the side effects of bloating and heaviness drag your mood down, too. So if you naturally reach for wheat-based or dairy-based comfort foods, it might be worth noticing how you feel afterwards.

What you could do instead?
Check you’re not suffering from low blood sugar (see trap 1 advice). And if you think it might be a boredom thing, how about spending 5 minutes waking up your body with some stretches, a quick dance or a short walk instead?

Bonus Tip: Drink Extra Water

Most of us don’t drink nearly enough water.
Your liver and kidneys might need extra during the Holiday Season, to help them detox the extra load they’re dealing with.

So make sure you’re getting your 2 litres a day. Sip it, rather than gulp it (imagine what happens when you water a dry plant pot – that is the same if you down a pint of water when you’re dehydrated – it goes right through!). You’ll be amazed by the difference it could make.

How do you know if you’re stuck in the food traps?

You could keep a “food ‘n’ mood” diary for 2 weeks.

Simply keep a note of EVERYTHING you’re eating and drinking (no cheating!) and every few hours, make a note of your mood next to it. After a week you should be able to spot clear trends.

That’ll help you figure out what to eat differently, if you want to feel happier.

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And if you’d like to make eating more healthily one of your New Year Resolutions, you might want to join me for the webinar I’m running to help you make your New Year Resolutions ROCK this year: Masterclass: Why New Year Resolutions Don’ Work – And What You Can Do Instead. It’s all about how to make next year your Best Year Yet.

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I’d love to know what your personal Christmas food traps are. Here’s where to share:

Click to share your answers on Facebook

Want Some Extra Help? Make Friends With Omegas

Omega oils can be a brilliant anti-stress device.

There’s a proven link between Omega oils and brain function.
Most of us are already low on these essential nutrients and party season is a time when we need them most.

Omega 3 is particularly good at balancing our emotions.

So to keep yourself feeling good, you might want to consider supplementing your diet.

Talk to an expert at your local health food shop or a holistic nutritionist for advice.

If dealing with your emotions is a roller coaster for you, then help is at hand.

Join my online Kickstart Course: Master Your Emotions and you could get off the emotional roller coaster in the next 14 days – in just 5 minutes a day. I’d be honoured to share the journey with you!
If you enjoyed this article, then here’s where you can find the rest of your Advent Calendar – and scroll down to register for a free quick reminder, so you catch each instalment – AND a gift copy of my book: 101 Ways To De-Stress Your Christmas.

I would LOVE to hear how you got on with today’s message, via the comments.
What are your secret time-stealers?
And what are you going to do about them?

See you tomorrow with Day 6!

With love, Namaste,