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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – The economy is recovering and that subsequent recovery will be slow. We are all feeling the stress. The things that we could easily afford may now be luxury items. But as you look for ways to deal with the stress of these tough economic times, it is important that you don’t do things that compromise your health. Now more than ever, you really can’t afford to get sick.
Your response to stress can catapult you into a vicious circle: you may
reach for high fat, high calorie comfort foods or skip your exercise routine
in favor of vegetating on the couch in front of the TV. This can lead to
dangerous elevations in your cholesterol, blood pressure and weight, and put
added strains on your heart. Being sick can lead to depression, which can
reinforce your poor eating habits. The best solution is not going down that
path in the first place.
Here are some tips for surviving the stress of the bad economy with your
health intact:
1.. Remember that everyone is going through this together. Try to remain
as positive as possible. There is a strong relationship between depression
and heart disease.
2.. Learn how to shop for healthful foods that won’t break the bank. There
are many foods that are good for you aren’t necessarily more expensive.
These include canned or frozen fruits and vegetables, as well as canned or
dried beans. When you look at the nutrient value, dairy products have a lot
of punch per penny with healthful protein, carbs, vitamins and minerals.
3.. Plan ahead for a snack attack. If you love sweets, chocolate graham
crackers are a sweet alternative to a piece of chocolate cake. If you must
have cake, try a piece of angel food cake topped with berries and low fat
fruit yogurt. It will give you the mouth feel you desire without all of the
fat and calories. Ice cream lovers should choose low fat varieties. Don’t
waste your hard-earned money on sugar free: it only makes you want more!
4.. Single servings may be a good value. If stress turns you into a binge
eater, those single serving sizes of ice cream, chocolate and other goodies
may be worth the extra expense so that you don’t eat over-exaggerated
portions in one sitting.
5.. Another feather in your cap would be to choose so-called ‘functional
foods’ that can help you reduce your risk factors for heart disease.
Functional foods are made with ingredients that boost their health benefits.
Today there are a number of functional foods, from breads and cheeses to
orange juice and cereal, made with plant sterols (also called phytosterols).
Just 0.4 grams of plant sterols twice daily, as part of a diet low in
saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce your risk of heart disease. To
make sure you are getting an optimal amount of cholesterol-lowering plant
sterols, look for the CoroWise logo on the label and the amount of plant
sterols per serving on the package information. A helpful list of products
is available on CoroWise.com.
6.. Play ‘hide the fiber’ in starchy foods. Comfort foods such as macaroni
and cheese are experiencing a resurging popularity during this economic
crisis but too many starchy carbohydrates are not great for anyone,
especially for people who have elevated triglyceride levels. If you must
have your carbs, hide other high fiber products in them. Some ideas using
high fiber pasta or mixing in some ground flax seed which also adds some
essential fatty acids that can help to maintain lower cholesterol levels.
It’s also a good idea to use low fat cheeses, many of which taste just as
great as the higher fat versions.
The economy is forcing all of us to learn to compromise. Don’t include your
health in this equation by allowing stress to rob you of your health. If you
are overweight, now is the time to focus on losing some of your body fat.
And be sure to stay active! Exercising regularly is good for your heart,
cholesterol, blood pressure and your state of mind.
Dr. Felicia D. Stoler is a registered dietician, exercise physiologist and
expert consultant in nutrition and healthful living. She was the host for
TLC’s reality show, Honey We’re Killing the Kids. She specializes in
integrating behavior modification to influence positive health outcomes.
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