There are a variety of smart lifestyle strategies you can use to lower your stress levels, including practicing meditation and deep breathing, getting adequate sleep, and exercise. But did you know that the food you eat has the potential to both reduce stress and cause stress? Food is a critical, yet often overlooked, piece of stress management. If you’re looking for strategies to reduce your overall stress load, it’s important to understand how nutrition impacts stress, and vice versa. On this episode of The Model Health Show, you’re going to hear the science of how food can reduce stress and cause stress. You’re also going to learn actionable steps you can take to ensure a healthier overall stress load with specific foods and behaviors. Learning strategies to modulate our stress responses is something we can all benefit from, so I hope this episode provides a ton of value to you. The bidirectional relationship between food and stress is a fascinating one, so click play, listen in, and enjoy the show! In this episode you’ll discover: What percentage of physician visits are caused by stress related illnesses. The connection between stress and cardiovascular events. What stress is, and how your overall stress load is compiled. The definition of gastrophysics. What role perception plays in your food preferences. The surprising findings of the sonic chip experiment. How texture can influence our food experiences and enjoyment level. Specific examples of snacks that incorporate various food textures. The connection between carbohydrates and serotonin production. How consuming fermented foods can improve your mental health. The health benefits of consuming chocolate. How eating with others can act as a defensive mechanism against stress. Why eating increases immune activity. The connection between ultra-processed foods and psychological stress. Why chewing thoroughly is critical for your health. The two main things you should include while eating to reduce your stress load. Items mentioned in this episode include: EatSmarterCookbook.com -- Preorder your copy today & claim your free bonuses! Foursigmatic.com/model -- Get an exclusive discount on your daily health elixirs! Organifi.com/Model  -- Use the coupon code MODEL for 20% off + free shipping! DrinkLMNT.com/model --Get a FREE sample pack with any order! Join TMHS Facebook community - Model Nation  Be sure you are subscribed to this podcast to automatically receive your episodes:  Apple Podcasts Stitcher Spotify Soundcloud   Thanks to our Sponsors! This episode is brought to you by Foursigmatic. What's another science backed food that can help to support the reduction of stress? Well, this one is actually traditionally used as a beverage, but it also is used culinary ways today in different food preparations. And I'm talking about Lion's Mane medicinal mushroom. I just went to a farmer's market the other day and there was a table there that had this wide variety of different medicinal mushrooms and Lion's Mane was there as well, and some folks who were getting the Lion's Mane to use it in different dishes. But traditionally it's gonna be a decoction or hot water extraction to kind of break down and extract these compounds that I'm about to share with you because within Lion's Mane, a study published in biomedical research found that test subjects with a variety of health complaints, including anxiety and poor sleep quality, were given Lion's Mane or a placebo for four weeks. The participants who use the Lion's Mane significantly reduce levels of irritation and anxiety than those in the placebo group. Alright, so we're talking about a reduction of agitation, a reduction of stress. The researchers stated "Our results show that Lion's Mane intake has the possibility to reduce depression and anxiety." That's special, man, that is really special. And as mentioned, you wanna make sure that this is a dual extraction to really get all the compounds from the mushrooms. This is why