Foods Good for the Body = Foods Good for the Soul
reducing inflammation, metabolizing cortisol, and relaxing the body and mind:
By: Joseph Molina National Veterans Chamber of Commerce veteransccsd@gmail.com
• Bananas
FEEL BETTER FOODS If you’re trying to lower your stress levels, you probably already know to start with the basics: self-care, better sleep, exercise, etc. But did you know that some foods lower stress levels, too? Dietitian Courtney Barth, MS, RDN, LD, CPT, explains how certain foods can help reduce levels of cortisol — the primary hormone responsible for stress. The Role of Cortisol Cortisol plays several roles in the body, including: • Regulating sleep cycles • Reducing inflammation
• Avocados • Broccoli • Dark chocolate • Pumpkin seeds • Spinach Gut-Healthy Foods Seventy to 80 percent of our immune system is reliant on our gut, so if we correct our gut, we correct a lot of our immunity. These probiotic-rich and fermented foods can help balance blood sugar and reduce cholesterol, like Greek yogurt, for example. In contrast, some foods raise cortisol levels, causing stress on the body. They include foods like alcohol, foods high in sugar and foods with simple carbs.
• Increasing blood sugar
Weight Loss: Follow a Diet or Change a Lifestyle?
• Managing how the body uses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
Losing weight is on the minds of many people. It seems that there are thousands of opinions, diets, and recommendations out there. Well, here is a “summary” of what I found. One study found that some foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and yogurt, related to weight loss. In the same study, potato chips, sugary beverages, red meats, and processed meats were associated with weight gain.
• Controlling blood pressure Notably, cortisol is sometimes known as the “stress hormone” because your adrenal gland releases it when you’re in a stressful situation or when your body is under physical stress. It’s the key to helping your body manage its fight-or-flight instinct — which is a good thing. “Cortisol is healthy for a short period of time as a protective mechanism,” Barth says. “It gives your body the energy you need to respond to a short-term stressful scenario.” In the long-term, though, too much cortisol actually creates stress in your body, leading to more inflammation and increasing your blood pressure — essentially, the opposite of all the good things it does for you in short-term scenarios. I found this video from Dr. Berg that explains it better and in more detail. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii_OWTqn1rw Foods that Reduce Stress Levels One good way to lower cortisol in the body is to focus on an anti-inflammatory diet, which means fewer processed foods and more whole foods. The goal is to eat foods that reduce inflammation in your body, thus reducing cortisol levels. Magnesium-Rich Foods Magnesium is greatly beneficial when it comes to 44
WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / JULY 2022
I found the topic of the Keto diet and Intermittent Fasting (IF) from Dr. Berg (LINK) — again, I found this to be informational and helpful in maintaining a well-balanced eating lifestyle. I hope you enjoy the information. Summary: I hope you found the information useful, and of course, there is plenty more out there to learn and research. Let me know if you find something that will be useful to share with the Veteran Community. Nominate a Hero: The National Veterans Chamber Radio Show • Would you like to Nominate a Hero? Let us know, and we will announce it on the show. • Would you like to share your story? Then, be our guest on the show — here is the REQUEST FORM. www.vccsd.org/radioshow.html • If you have any ideas or a project that you would like to develop in collaboration with the National Veterans Chamber, send your ideas to: veteransccsd@gmail.com
