2.1.3 Coffee Intake
When under a lot of stress, people often burn the candle at both ends to try make
ends meet. When they attempt this, they normally use coffee or other stimulants to
assist them. The problem with coffee is that it contains caffeine which, if taken in
large quantities can have negative side effects on the body. One of the main
problems is that the person is using coffee to stay awake when rest is obviously
required. Drinking lots of coffee will eventually lead to a pattern of all day caffeine
consumption. This pattern/addiction damages the body because it is working when it
should be resting. Caffeine also has negative side effects on the brain and nervous
system if taken in vast quantities. 2.1.4 Eating the Wrong Food Types
The problem people have when under stress is that they crave foods that are high in
the nutrients which should be limited. This is down to the hormone called cortisol that
is produced when under stress. A person that is stressed will generally go for foods
that have high contents of fats and sugars.
2.1.5 Fad Dieting
When people become stressed, they tend to put on weight. This is due to the amount
of cortisol produced which in turn, leads to a high amount of fatty foods consumed.
Due to this problem, people try to lose weight quick by either going on fad diets, or
cutting out food entirely. This can be a very dangerous choice to make as you are
not getting all the vital nutrients you need for your body to function properly. The
results may look good for you in the short run, but in the long term your body will
suffer because of this.
2.1.6 Constantly Picking at Foods
When people become stressed, they notice that they begin to eat much more than
they normally would. When a person is not stressed, they only tend to eat food when
they are hungry (ideally this should only be three times a day). The situation is very
different under stress; in fact it is quite the opposite. Under stress, a person will eat
when they are not even hungry and constantly pick at fatty snacks.