Stress is a response we have to external factors but also internal factors like the food we eat. Certain foods are not well digested or processed in the body resulting in gut issues, inflammation, or hormone imbalances. Over time, the body responds in defense, and cortisol levels will increase. Cortisol is our stress hormone and when released too much, this can cause other imbalances in the body. Stress and gut health are tied very closely together so when a food negatively impacts the gut, our stress levels will increase.
The goal of gut health is to make our gut bacteria happy and to properly digest food. Our gut is lined with a variety of healthy bacteria which aid in the digestion and absorption process. Though we do not want to have too much or too little of the healthy bacteria, and we also need a broad diversity of different kinds of healthy bacteria. Certain foods can negatively impact these gut bacteria, resulting in painful symptoms like constipation, bloating, gas, or diarrhea, and over time with regular consumption, this can increase your stress levels. Note that the stress causing foods mentioned here can still be included in a healthy diet regime. It is just important to be aware of how frequently you are eating these foods to limit their consumption, but there’s no need to eliminate them.