Foods That Wield a Double-Edged Sword

If you're drinking too much coffee in the morning and snacking on too many pretzels in the afternoon, you're probably feeling a bit stressed. Before you toss your morning java, consider scaling back. The simple act of demonizing food can add to your stress, says Susan Burke, chief nutritionist for www.eDiets.com, a diet, fitness and motivation site.

Whether you're trying to reduce stress, lose weight or build muscle, "one individual food or a couple of foods will not produce results unless your whole diet is geared," says Burke, who uses the '80s oat bran craze as an example. Although oat bran was shown to decrease the risk of heart disease, it did little for people who ate too many other foods that were high in fat and cholesterol.

Burke recommends paying close attention to portion size and moderation, as well as a balanced meal plan and exercise to help ease stress.

Her advice on a few topics:

• Caffeine: A little caffeine is fine, as it helps many people improve performance and concentration. But too much can increase your stress level and cause anxiety, insomnia and stress.

   

• Sodium: A lot of salt can stress out your system and cause fluid retention. Foods processed with a lot of sodium are OK only in moderation. Too much can stress out your metabolism.

   

• Sugar: Eating a lot of refined carbs can stress your pancreas, increase more insulin, and contribute to weight gain. Instead of white cereal, white bread and white rice, try whole grain cereal, wheat bread and brown rice.

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