STRESS DETRACTS FROM POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF HEALTHY EATING

Stress is known to be an independent risk factor for many chronic diseases including heart disease and diabetes.   An interesting new study indicates that one of the ways stress impacts health is by diminishing the positive effects of healthy foods. 

To evaluate the interactions between diet and stress, researchers recruited 58 healthy women with an average age of 53.  On two different days, participants consumed a high fat breakfast of biscuits and gravy.  Both days the breakfasts contained 930 calories and 60 grams of fat but on one day the fat came from unhealthy saturated fats and, on the other day, the fat came from healthy monounsaturated fat.  On both occasions the women completed detailed interviews to assess the stress they experienced on the previous day.  Their blood was drawn multiple times during their visits. The researchers looked at two markers of inflammation -- C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A. They also evaluated two markers of cell adhesion molecules, indicators of how readily arterial plaques form.   The research team controlled for blood levels before the meals, age differences, abdominal fat and physical activity -- all factors that could impact the physiological response to the meal.

Previous research has shown that saturated fats increase inflammation in the body, which has been linked with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and a host of other chronic health problems.  Saturated fats mainly come from the fats in dairy and meat.  Conversely, monounsaturated fats such as those found in olives and nuts are associated with lower levels of inflammation and better heart health.

The trial found that participants with low recent stress levels exhibited lower levels of inflammation and cell adhesion after they ate the monounsaturated fat biscuits and gravy, compared with when they ate the saturated fat-laden alternative.  But, for participants with higher levels of recent stress, the monounsaturated fat meal did not confer physiological advantages.  Their levels of inflammation and cell adhesion were comparable to when they had the high saturated fat meal. 

These findings add to the evidence that stress, even moderate, short-term stress exerts a powerful role on our health. Exactly how stress interacts with the physiological effects of foods is not known.  It is possible that the harmful effects of stress overwhelm the potential benefits of a healthy meal, or it may be that stress itself alters the body's processing of the meal.  Other studies have shown that a person's metabolic rate is lower and insulin levels are higher following a stressful day.

What to do:  Because food is tangible and stress is not, it is sometimes harder to recognize an unhealthy stress response than an unhealthy food.  These results underscore the importance of developing healthy strategies to cope with stress and they hint at the fact that in order for us to realize the full benefits of a healthy diet, we must first manage our stress.  Regular sleep, regular physical activity, journaling, talking with others, practicing mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy can all help to support better stress management. 

Source:

Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Fagundes CP, Andridge C et al. Depression, daily stressors and inflammatory responses to high-fat meals: when stress overrides healthier food choices. Molecular Psychiatry, 2016. DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.149

Information adapted from articles available at:

https://consumer.healthday.com/mental-health-information-25/stress-health-news-640/stress-might-undercut-benefits-of-healthy-diet-for-women-715012.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160920083529.htm