Читать книгу DASH Diet For Dummies - Sarah Samaan - Страница 22

Not all stress is created equal. There’s good stress, which you have control over, and then there’s the bad kind, which leaves you feeling overwhelmed and powerless. Guess which form of stress is harmful? Of course, it’s the second type. Sometimes you can get away from this sort of stress, but sometimes it’s just a part of your work or family life.

Stress can seem like so much a part of everyday life that it becomes hard to recognize, but the truth is that it can affect your health. Perhaps you don’t realize it, but when you’re stressed you may be more apt to reach for a cookie or a soda rather than an apple or a handful of nuts. Sometimes these cravings mean that you’re searching for an instant energy boost, but processed foods only serve to cause a vicious cycle of craving and hunger. Keep these foods out of reach and you may find that you’re better able to manage the stress that comes your way.

Not surprisingly, stress can also have a direct influence on your blood pressure. By leaving an unhappy job or a difficult relationship, you may suddenly find that your blood pressure is much easier to manage. Of course, sometimes you can’t, or don’t want to, get away from the situation that’s causing the problem, but many times there’s something about it that you can change for the better. Don’t give up on yourself just because it seems difficult. Your health depends on you taking good care of yourself.

Stress can also cause poor sleep, which itself may lead to high blood pressure and cravings for unhealthy food. Getting to the root of the problem may help you sleep better.

When dealing with stress above and beyond the daily annoyances, it often helps to enlist the services of a well-qualified counselor. By doing so, you’ll find it much easier to get your life back on track, and the healthier choices may begin to come more naturally.