Every time we experience a new situation our bodies produce more adrenaline, which give us extra energy to deal with the challenge at hand. Too much stress can drain our supplies of these nutrients leaving us with little or no fuel for our daily energy needs. The key to eating for less stress is to avoid food that aggravates our stress response, and to increase our body's stores of the nutrients we need to handle stressful situations. Like adrenaline, caffeine is a stimulant. Too much caffeine acts in the same way as too much stress, so caffeine can make stress symptoms worse.
Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and many sodas.
It's wise to limit caffeine in general, but it's particularly beneficial to avoid caffeine when under stress. Alcohol is a depressant and can aggravate stress. Avoid this stress seesaw by restricting your use of both caffeine and alcohol. You might also ask your physician or nutritionist about a Vitamin C supplement. Your body also uses more protein and complex carbohydrates when you're under stress.