Relationship between stress and food

It was when I went shopping in downtown Portland after a long-time pandemic. I have witnessed many homeless people setting up tents and living on the streets. I knew from the news that many people lost their jobs, and the homeless population increased due to the influence of Covid-19, but when I witnessed it, I realized the harshness of reality. 

 

Many homeless people seemed sick and stressed. The stress they have can be caused by the loss of home or work, as well as the lack of adequate nutrition and malnutrition. 

 

The food they eat is distributed at food banks and elsewhere, and they are high in fat, low in fiber, and lack the nutrition they need every day.

 

Homeless people may be stressed out by not having a well-nourished diet that causes increasing chances of committing a crime. However, it is challenging for them to eat nutritious foods actively. The reason is that they cannot afford to select food because they can only secure enough food to survive every day.

 

Did you know that eating a balanced diet can reduce stress and anxiety? 

 

According to one article, "Managing stress is the number one treatment for lowering cortisol levels," Barth says. 

 

Cortisol is also called a stress hormone, and it is said that stress can be reduced by keeping it low at all times. 

 

So, what kind of food can reduce stress? 

 

I summarized it in the graph below.

In this way, eating a well-balanced diet and controlling cortisol levels is challenging for homeless people trying to survive. 

 

To solve this problem, Hearts for the Homeless of Western New York, Inc. operates Hearts Harvest Pantry & Café, which feeds homeless people and gives food education on what kind of food should be eaten to stay healthy. 

 

I believe that these activities can be emulated in Oregon. 

 

With donations from the government and people in Oregon, we need to consider such facilities.

 

However, we first need to know what kind of stress homeless people have and think about contributions to improve their lives.

 

https://heartsforthehomeless.org/challenges-of-proper-nutrition/

 

https://heartsforthehomeless.org/food-pantry/

 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/eat-these-foods-to-reduce-stress-and-anxiety/