The following is the second in a series of News Transmission articles from the E.ON U.S. Corporate Health and Safety Department on coping with common stress issues. Each article will discuss a specific type of stress and outline coping techniques to improve your quality of life.

For many Americans, a stressful day at work often leads to a trip to through the drive-through window. Stress frequently prompts people to reach for high-fat., sweet or salty foods, particularly convenience and "comfort" foods. That double-cheeseburger, order of fries, and chocolate shake, however, usually make stress even worse.

A person's ability to cope with stress is affected by his/her nutritional status. Poor nutrition before and during periods of high stress will make you more likely to develop health problems and will reduce your ability to cope with stress. Prolonged stress affects nutritional status in the following ways:

• Stress causes your body to need more of certain nutrients that are directly involved in the stress response. Other nutrients are lost from the body at an increased rate.
• Stress often leads to altered eating habits, including an increased intake of snack foods that are high in sugar, fat and salt.
• Consuming these ingredients in excess amounts may lead to obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease.
• To get all the nutrients you need for when your body is stressed, you should eat a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, whole-grain and enriched breads, cereals, and other grain products, milk, cheese, yogurt, meats, poultry, fish, eggs, and dry beans and peas.

Here are some other guidelines for changing your diet to reduce stress:

• Eat an appropriate amount of food on a reasonable schedule. Overeating can add to stress by making you feel sluggish and tired.
• Reduce caffeine intake. Studies have shown that caffeine can increase levels of stress hormones, and these increases may persist all day long and up to bedtime.
• Take along some healthy food. If you've got some healthy food with you (fruit, bagels, and yogurt can be bought quickly nearly everywhere) you won't suffer the consequences of missed meals and fat-laden fast food binges.
• Eat breakfast. Even if you're running out the door late for your first meeting, grab a bite to eat. A busy schedule requires energy, and stress amplifies our need for adequate fuel. A bonus is that your mood will improve too.
• Drink water. Eight glasses per day is the recommended amount, but having water — on your desk, in your purse or briefcase, and in the car — to sip all day is a practical way to maintain healthy hydration. Sipping water will also give you something to do when nervous, and this healthy practice might help you resist the urge for caffeine or junk food.