Bills, bad days, and work deadlines are only a few of the stressors you face every day. The last thing you want is to add more stress to your daily life. Except, you might be increasing your stress without even knowing it. Many people underestimate the impact of their diets. When in reality, most health issues, both mental and physical, can trace back to foods or drinks you consume. That’s why we found out which drinks are worsening stress. That way you can avoid them and keep your stress levels to a minimum.
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1. Coffee
In a poll conducted by Shape.com, nearly half of the respondents “admitted to drinking more coffee than usual (up to two cups) when you need to stay alert, focused, and productive.” However, coffee is jam packed with caffeine and while the initial boost feels good at first, too much coffee can lead to a turn for the worst. “Caffeine is one of the safer stimulants out there,” says Christopher N. Ochner, PhD, but “unfortunately, any stimulant carries with it the side effect of anxiety.” He also points out that caffeine can make you jittery, nervous, and worrisome. In order to prevent your stress levels from spiking, stick to only one cup of coffee as your morning pick-me-up (or maybe two cups if you’ve built up a tolerance to caffeine).
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2. Alcohol
It’s extremely common for people to unwind from a long day with a glass of wine or can of beer. While that’s not necessarily unhealthy, it could heighten your stress. Since alcohol is a sedative and depressant, it can make you feel more relaxed. However, according to Heathline.com, “once you start drinking, you can build a tolerance to the de-stressing effects of alcohol.” Then, anxiety and stress become harder to cope with. Basically, a drink a night won’t hurt you but if you’re doing this regularly you’re most likely going to build a tolerance where you’re going to need more than one drink to feel the effects and that’s leading you down a dangerous path. To play it safe, if you’re feeling stressed or want to be as stress-free as possible, avoid drinking too much caffeine and alcohol.
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