Stress is something just about everyone experiences, which isn’t unusual on its own. However, if you have daily stress that is affecting your quality of life, that is when you need to do something about it. Stress can wreak havoc on your physical health and your mental health, worsening anxiety and depression, interrupting your sleep, and causing problems in your personal and professional life.
Here are some tips for easing your daily stress in a more natural way.
Most Important Step: Change Your Diet
The diet that you consume each day can reduce your stress naturally so that you don’t need to take medications that cause unpleasant side effects. Make sure to create meal plans that contain these foods so that you can have less anxiety.
Spinach
Spinach is a highly nutritious dark leafy green that contains iron, vitamin C and tryptophan. When you consume tryptophan, it helps to calm your mind along with relaxing your nervous system. Use spinach in salads and on sandwiches.
Salmon
It is important to consume protein each day, and salmon contains antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Omega-3 fatty acids help to create a healthy brain that can withstand the daily stresses that occur at work or school.
Oranges
Oranges contain vitamin C and antioxidants that will boost your body’s immune system. With a healthier immune system, the cortisol levels in your body will decrease, helping to reduce your anxiety.
Blueberries
Delicious blueberries are considered a superfood that is recommended for making smoothie beverages or baked goods. This fruit contains the antioxidants, iron and vitamin A that your body requires to overcome the bad effects of a stressful lifestyle.
Dark Chocolate
When you feel anxious, you may crave dark chocolate because this delicious treat contains a lot of antioxidants. By eating a small amount of dark chocolate each day, you can have a reduction in the fight-or-flight chemicals in your body.
Asparagus
After eating asparagus, the vitamin B in this vegetable helps your brain to produce dopamine. This chemical improves your overall mood so that you feel less anxious on a daily basis.
Almonds
When you eat almonds, you are ingesting vitamin E that helps to reduce the free radicals in your body’s cells. If you are experiencing stress, then your body’s glands release hormones that will damage the cells in your mind and body, but almonds can help repair this damage.
Avocado
Avocados contain several types of vitamin B, and this nutrient helps to reduce your mind’s anxiety levels. You can use avocado slices in a salad, or you can mash avocado to create a tasty dip for tortilla chips.
Turkey
Turkey has a lot of tryptophan that will increase the amount of serotonin in the pleasure center of your brain. By eating roasted turkey or having a turkey sandwich, you can reduce your stress levels.
More Natural Remedies for Stress Relief
One of the biggest ailments our world faces is stress. Stress is how your body responds to threats or pressing demands. While there is good stress, known as eustress, negative stress can make us feel tired or angry and can cause high blood pressure. It’s often believed that nature gives us the best remedies, so here are some simple and natural ways to relieve and reduce stress.
Practice Your Breathing
As simple as it sounds, doing breathing exercises can help you relax and unwind after a difficult day. One of the most effective exercises is to breathe in deeply for seven seconds, hold for three seconds, and exhale slowly over eight seconds. This exercise will help slow your heart rate and relax your muscles, and can even help you get to sleep easily.
Exercise
Physical activity can be a number of things. You can swim, skate, ski, or bike. These are just a few of the many different ways you can stay physically active. When you move your body and work your muscles, your body responds by increasing oxygen flow to the brain. Exercising regularly can improve the overall health of your brain, even if it’s just 30 minutes a day.
Get Good Sleep
Many people underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep, but it’s very important for everyday life. Getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night is ideal for the average adult, whereas children and teenagers will likely need more. Sleep will also improve your learning and memory. While you sleep, your body repairs itself and clears the waste from your brain. Getting enough sleep every night can improve your overall health and decrease stress.
