Research has shown that heightened psychological stress levels are associated with an increased risk of illness.

Stress is not inherently detrimental and is an adaptive psychological and physiological process in the right conditions. However, when stress becomes chronic, it can lead to a host of adverse health effects. Psychological stress causes activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic nervous system, and oxidative stress and systemic inflammation also occur. Chronic stress causes dysregulation of these physiological responses, meaning cortisol, inflammation and oxidative stress are not appropriately downregulated in the recovery period.

Emerging evidence suggests that maintaining a healthy diet can reduce the risk of anxiety and depression. This is because certain dietary components, such as micronutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, and polyphenols, play crucial roles in regulating neurotransmitters, the gut microbiome, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

Given the overlapping physiological mechanisms involved in anxiety, depression, and stress, it's plausible that an individual's regular dietary habits could influence their response to acute stress or relaxation interventions.

In this study, we investigated if a healthy diet will be associated with better recovery from acute stress, and a better response to a relaxation intervention.

This study was approved by the Health & Disabilities Ethics Committees.