HEALTH & WELLNESS Stress-busting starts with a sip


In these uncertain times, lifestyle changes to help reduce stress and anxiety are more important than ever. Gemma Colao, co-founder and managing director of OTO, talks about how making healthy choices can improve our mood and what her company is doing to encourage this.


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o much is out of our control at the moment, and the inevitable stress that follows a period of such huge uncertainty is difficult to manage. As always, lifestyle plays a crucial role in how well we cope with stress; nutrition is especially important in safeguarding mental health during this difficult time, as studies consistently prove that a healthy diet can play a role in managing and relieving anxiety. That’s not to say it’s easy to eat and drink well in times of crisis. As nutritionist Nicola Moore explains, “Reaching for junk food, sugary drinks and alcohol is common through moments of stress because it’s fast, firing off the happy hormones and giving a brief moment of comfort.”


32 | Beverage Essentials Handbook


The only problem is that once the initial high has passed, you’re left feeling worse off: “that sweet fix can cause a sugar spike, just to be left low, subdued and with a lack of energy,” she says. With that in mind, Moore suggests that, rather than reaching for the chocolate and wine when we feel deflated, we should make small changes to our diet to subtly influence our mental health, manage anxiety and lift our mood: 


Stay hydrated: water makes up around 70% of the body, so it is no surprise that dehydration can have a detrimental effect on mental well-being. “Even mild levels of dehydration can produce disruptions in mood and cognitive function,” Moore explains. Water carries hormones and nutrients to their


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