Healthy comfort foods for overstressed people is not an oxymoron. Overstressed people are the same as anyone else - they want to reward themselves, and this is where comfort foods come in. There are lots of reasons why we crave comfort foods not least are the psychological reasons. We feel a need to treat or reward ourselves because "we deserve it - we work hard".
The problem with comfort eating is the fact that we eat junk food that gives us a quick sugar fix and when that hit is over we are left overtired and more tired than ever, and if that was not bad enough we also feel guilty because we have succumbed to comfort eating again! That does not mean that comfort foods are banned they are not, but it is a good to reclassify what you call comfort foods. Often comfort foods are highly calorific, a classic example is the American calorie overload mac and cheese. However comfort foods can be light snacks which are relatively healthy.
Healthy eating can still have foods that have a massive comfort value. Mindless eating is a senseless exercise that just adds more guilt. When you want to eat write it down before you eat it and then your food diary can build a list of what you are eating that is wrong. High calorie comfort snack eating or drinking has worse effects on your health than guilt. Potato chips, crisps, Pringles, etc., are massively high in calories and fats, but also they have high levels of sodium. Sodium is a contributory factor in hypertension or high blood pressure. A healthy comfort food that delivers on all levels is low fat yoghurt, any flavor. I personally like to use the low fat Greek yoghurt and add nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, or pistachios, and fresh fruit. Try crushed berries and almonds. That healthy comfort food can also be frozen.
Summer berries are low in fat and very high in antioxidants and the natural sweetness of strawberries is irresistible. An Italian trick for bringing out the flavor of strawberries is forget the sugar or honey they kill the natural sweetness of Summer. Sprinkle freshly grated black pepper on strawberries to maximize the flavor. Rejuvenate your body when you are stressed rather than reach for the comfort food. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and it assists the liver and kidneys' in detoxifying your whole body.
Try some deep breathing exercises that take less than five minutes, but they send more blood to your extremities to pick up the toxins in your body and get rid of the, Breathe in slowly to the count of eight, hold for eight seconds and then exhale for eight seconds. Pack out your refrigerator with loads of fruit and fresh vegetables. Eat a fresh kiwi for an instant sugar hit and masses of healthy Vitamin C. Avoid processed sugar, cakes and cookies and feel less stressed because your body has to work harder to digest processed food.
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