Spiritual and Emotional Wellness

Self-Care
One of the greatest threats to spiritual and emotional wellness as well as physical health , is stress. Self -Care is necessary to avoid becoming a casuality of stress. Today's topic on spiritual and emotional wellness is Self-Care. It is about what we eat and how it can be associated with stress.

I recently read an article in the Globe and Mail about a lady who experienced, loss of sleep, loss of appetite, anxiety attacks and a rash around her neck and on her hands from the stress of losing her job.
Stress affects us all, some to a greater degree than others and for different reasons. You maybe affected by stress more than you think. It can affect you spiritually, emotionally and physically. You need to identify stress and learn to manage it. There are some simple things that you can do in managing stress. I will share them with you over a short series of articles on the subject beginning with food and eating habits.
1. Food and Eating Habits.
We need energy to complete daily tasks. Energy comes from the food we eat; therefore a balanced diet based on the Canadian Food Guide is important. However when we are under stress we consume energy more quickly and our ability to function properly is impaired. A common response to stress by some people is to turn to fast food; the quick sugar fix offers them comfort at the expense of their emotional and physical well-being. So, before rushing off to the nearest fast food establishment or to the refrigerator for processed food, cake, chocolate and pop, ask yourself do I really need this or is it a psychological need for comfort?

Foods that are healthy for the body are also the foods that release chemicals in the brain, which help you to be calm, such as good diet of fruit, whole grains and protein that are also helpful in reducing tiredness.
Some experts say eating smaller portions of food more frequently is healthier than consuming two or three large meals a day. You should also include an intake of up too two litres of water in your daily diet.
If you are finding that your energy level isn’t sufficient for you to accomplish your necessary tasks during the day, you should check out your stress level and examine your diet.
By the way, the article I referred to at the beginning, I read it while at “Diary Queen”. Before I am judged a hypocrite, allow me to explain. It was my day off and treating yourself once in a while is also good for stress reduction and I also walked five kilometres in the rain after to burn off the unnecessary calories. Exercise is also helpful in stress management. We will deal with that in a future article. Remember, scripture tells us “ your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit”. It is important for you to take care of yourself.