We have all been stressed at some point or another, from mental stress to physical stress, there is not a single person on the planet that has not had this little 6 letter word creep up on them and pounce when they are least expecting.
Some of us are certainly better at managing it than others, but the good news is that we can all take control of our own stress response by actively engaging our "Rest and Digest" function over our "fight or flight" mode.
Check out our Blog – Top 3 Vitamins & Top 12 Tonic Herbs for Immunity.
Below are 6 ways to help reduce stress so that you are taking control of your own stress response. Baring in mind that what works to chill one person out may not be the same for the person standing next to them. So try a few and see which works best for you, try one for 1-2 weeks, see how you feel and which works best for you.
Quality Sleep enables proper recovery and rest, yep our internal parts (organs) need to chill out too. We suggest only consuming water in the 1-3 hours before bed to let the digestion settle, the organs slow down and promote their regeneration while you sleep. We also recommend avoiding blue light or your screens in the last 30-60mins before bed so that your avoiding impacting your internal circadian rhythm (Tips for Better Sleep).
Managing stress comes back to our fight or flight response, it plays a major role in depletion of energy and overall balance. Most of the points not only help improve immune function but they also reduce stress, which makes sense, since excess stress activates the immune system. Suggestions:
We really are what we eat, if we feed our bodies the good stuff then it has the best tools to accomplish the best things, and the good stuff doesn't mean the "tasty" fast food, that's like putting diesel into a petrol vehicle (the engine goes BOOM), your body will have the same response as its not nutritionally dense, it might take a little longer because the body is smart, but the effects are the same, multiple diseases can be caused through bad diet and lifestyle choices (cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, some cancers, the list is looooong). Choose fresh fruit and veggies, cook meals from scratch (its cheaper too), and if you want to boost your system some more add some tonic herbs (see below).
Move it or lose it. Our bodies are designed to move, whatever that looks like for you it doesn’t matter, just move. Physical activity has been linked to positively impacting all aspects of health, including; cardiovascular health, mood, diabetes, sleep quality, weight control and boosting energy. Starting an exercise routine where you get your "sweat on" can have significant effects on long term emotional and physical health. We recommend if nothing at all, get up and go for a brisk 30min walk to start the day, you’d be amazed at how you feel from resetting the circadian rhythm, to burning more calories if you don't eat or drink anything other than water before you head out. You could also add a Tabata HIIT workout into your week once or twice, at just 8mins it’s got some awesome bang for you buck!
As adults, we're made up of around 60% water. Most times when you feel a bit flat, it’s because you haven’t consumed enough water. The human brain is made up of around 75% water, when your dehydrated circulation flow reduces reducing oxygen to the brain (and everywhere else), in turn reducing optimum function and “reducing calmness and positive emotions” (2014 study), (2015 research analysis; 1, 2). A 2019 study determined that water consumption reduced fatigue and improved attention, short term memory and reaction (2019 study).
Water options include;
Controlled breathing has a positive impact on the body by reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and improving the adaptive immune system.
All of the above are easy, free ways to help reduce stress and support proper immune function. Pick one and let us know how you go.
If you have any questions or need a referral to a fabulous Naturopath, Ayurveda Practitioner, Fitness Guru or Sleep Health expert, we are here to help!
As always, Take Care, Stay Safe, Stay Positive and Love Life.
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"Let Food be your first Medicine and Kitchen be your first Pharmacy."