5 Natural Ways Reduce Your Stress

Stress is an issue for most people at some point in their lives. Many people experience the negative emotional and physical effects of stress on a daily basis. It costs us as stressed individuals in terms of peace of mind, physical ailments, and less productivity. There are several approaches to stress management that can alleviate the effects of excessive stress. Here are 5 natural ways to reduce your stress levels:
1. Assess your diet.

The mind and body are closely connected, and improving the health of one will support improvement in the other. Concentrate on eating fresh vegetables and fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains. Reduce your intake of processed foods, especially sugars, fats and empty carbohydrates, as much as possible. If you have problems with your appetite as a result of stress, try carrying around healthy snack foods that you can eat throughout the day. If you tend to overeat when stressed, be sure you are not eating while distracted, i.e. in front of the television. Try setting a time in the evening where you cut off your eating altogether.

2. Try supplements.
Start with a good food based multivitamin, and add a calcium supplement if you are not consuming a lot of calcium rich foods. Fish oil has a multitude of physical benefits, including improvement of brain function. If you are struggling with any feelings of depression, you can try 5 HTP (hydroxytryptophan), a natural antidepressant. You can also take L-Theanine if you are experiencing anxiety.
3. Talk things out.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your stressful life, it can be helpful to speak with a counselor or life coach to determine how to get your life into better balance. A professional can offer you a trained, unbiased perspective on your troubles and help guide you to find solutions. It can also be very helpful to talk things over with a trusted friend or family member. Emotional support can help alleviate feelings of stress.
4. Initiate a doctor approved exercise program.
This is an excellent technique for managing stress. Your body may be reacting with some fight or flight responses in reaction to stress, and getting physical will help to dissipate the hormones that your stressed body is releasing. Sustained cardiovascular exercise is ideal for mood regulation. What you want is an activity that raises your heart rate long enough to obtain the release of endorphins, the feel good chemicals that are released during exercise.
5. Stop and do one thing that is just for you each day.
Make a list of small activities or pleasures you enjoy. Each day, take the time to do one thing off your list. When you have exhausted your list, make a new one.


Article Source by : shanon E cook