Stress and Anxiety

Avoid "The Stress Mess"

Are you suffering with anxiety or just stressed out?

Often when we are under pressure and going through stressful events in our lives, we will reach for foods that don't have any nutritional value, foods that turn out to be more harmful than useful to our bodies. You know the foods I'm talking about all too well. The little sugary snacks like candy bars, donuts and don't forget about the salty stuff, like potato chips and French fries.

Did you know that our bodies release a hormone known as cortisol?  This stress hormone at high levels can cause our bodies to crave the foods that can do the most harm to us. The next time you feel stress coming on give this serious thought and choose a healthier substitute.

Take a deep breath and in the moment think about the negative that stress does to the body, then move in a positive manner. Now take a few minutes to just continue breathing deeply and I don't mean hyperventilating. Just take a deep breath hold it for about 5 seconds and breathe out slowly.  Wait a few seconds between taking another deep breath. Do this perhaps 5 times and this will help your body to slow down the release of cortisol.

Are you anxious?

You may even take a walk...yep a brisk walk around the block will help reduce anxiousness and stress. When you find yourself reaching for something to put in your mouth, don't reach for cigarettes, booze, coffee, sweets or salty stuff because all of these things will simply do nothing but increase your anxiety & stress levels causing a spike in cortisol.

Here are a few more tips to take into consideration:

Antioxidants are extremely helpful to our bodies when dealing with anxiety and stress, so reach for an orange, tangerine, grapefruit or berries. You might even want to implement a vitamin C supplement.  Studies have shown time and time again the effectiveness this vitamin has in assisting the body to bounce back into shape from stressful events thereby reducing cortisol levels.

Think fish the next time you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed out or anxious. Have a dish of tuna or a salmon salad the omega-3 fatty acid that is in tuna fish and salmon is a slap in face to high levels of cortisol. Now that's a healthy alternative.

Try implementing oatmeal in your daily diet.  This will aid in helping your body to better achieve optimal mood stimulation over a period of time thereby warding off anxiousness, but stimulating serotonin production in your brain.  As a result helping you to feel better and deal with your issues so that stress and anxiety don't get the best of you.

One last thing before I go, think H2O. I have found being near a lake, a pond, the ocean or even a waterfall can be very therapeutic. Therefore creating a since of wellness, isn't that what it's really all about?

Make the right choices!

Terrye