Janie Boschma

Representing an attitude shared by many anxiety stricken college students, senior Anthony Schultz said, when he feels stressed, he reaches for comfort foods.

Comfort foods usually consist of savory, high-fat, high-sugar snacks that are convenient and cheap, said Tammy Klink, a registered dietitian at the South Side Medical Clinic, 714 W. Hamilton Ave.

“The snacks that are the most popular are the ones to stay away from,” Klink said.

Klink and registered nurse Mary Farrell of Health Services both said major elements that contribute to increasing stress and anxiety are caffeine, sugar, foods high in salt and fat, as well as overeating and not eating.

No more Joe

Schultz said whenever he needs a boost, he’ll grab a Mountain Dew just to stay awake and get a little extra energy.

“Students tend to reach for the caffeine drinks when they are feeling tired, or they begin loading up when they know they’re in for a long night of studying,” Klink said. “But by doing this they are only making the stress situation worse because they are now depriving themselves of sleep.”

Too much caffeine interrupts sleep patterns, which not only affects a student’s concentration, but also can lower their immunity to diseases and increase their risk for cardiovascular disease, Farrell said. She recommends students switch to tea, because in recent studies, it has been shown to decrease Cortisol, a stress hormone.

Klink said she recommends students try to stay away from coffee and caffeine in general. But, if they still decide to drink coffee, she said students should not drink caffeine after about 3 p.m. to prevent it from keeping them awake.

Call off the shots

Alcohol is notorious for its abilities to make any situation less stressful, Klink said.

“It is used as a stress reliever, but the side effects can be detrimental not only to your life but to your ability to concentrate and remember information,” she said.

The Mothers Against Drug Driving Web site stresses the serious side affects alcohol can have.

“Alcohol depresses the central nervous system and contracts brain tissue,” according to MADD’s Web site. “Taken in large amounts over a long period of time, alcohol can cause serious problems with cognition and memory.”

Although many studies have proven that a glass of wine a night can be beneficial, it is still an abusive drug and should be consumed in moderation, according to WebMD’s Web site.

Sugar is not so sweet

Sugar might possibly be the most dangerous food related contributor to stress, Klink said, because it is the most convenient and inexpensive comfort food for college students. She also said more often than not, a college student will choose a candy bar over a piece of fruit.

“Many places accessible to students, like the bookstore, don’t usually have a bowl of fruit at the check-out counter, they have candy bars,” Klink said.

Schultz said snacks such as cookies and milk or ice cream can make him feel better and offer comfort after a very stressful day.

Even though Schultz said he doesn’t feel a distinct low after the sugar has warn off, Farrell said many people have very significant highs and lows when binging on sugar drinks and snacks – which can intensify stress instead of relieving it. Klink agreed, stating that the highs are fleeting and the lows leave the person more exhausted and drained than before they had the snack.

You shouldn’t have fries with that

More comfort foods include high sodium and high fat content snacks such as potato chips and French fries.

Highly-salted foods cause dehydration, which results in fatigue, and fatty foods leave the consumer feeling sluggish, according to WebMD’s Web site.

Schultz said foods like Hot Pockets and pizza rolls are snacks that he chooses because of convenience.

“They are easy to throw in the microwave and eat,” he said. “They satisfy the craving.”

Klink recommends students eat salty foods in moderation, but a better solution would be to choose healthier options when they have the chance.

To eat, or not to eat?

These two extremes should be avoided because they also have negative affects on the body and mind’s ability to cope with stress, Klink said.

Farrell said she encourages students to eat balanced meals throughout the day, especially breakfast, because skipping the first meal of the day can affect their ability to focus and retain information.

Similarly, Klink said she discourages the over-eating of processed foods because it can cause the person to become lethargic and lazy.

Although skipping meals and overeating may seem like a form of control while life is so stressful, it can only lead to more stress and increased anxiety, according to WebMD’s Web site

Instead, including the right kinds of foods, such as Klink’s suggestion of fruit instead of candy and Farrell’s suggestion of tea as a good supplement for coffee, will keep your body and mind more in balance.