Stress Relief

Did you know that the Center for Disease Control estimates that 75-90% of all doctor visits in America are stress-related?

This is why more and more people are nowadays looking for supplements and life routines than can aid them in the reach of stress relief. Many relay on the implementation of relaxation work-outs, such us yoga or Tai chi. Others, search for new foods that may help them achieve distress.  As a matter of fact, in most stress cases the body needs both, healthy habits and healthy foods and supplements, to help recover.

It is important to understand that Stress, when used wisely, can be positive. For instance, businesspeople or students use stress to achieve certain goals hence raising their levels of performance.

We should also take in consideration that: occasional challenging projects, arguments, difficulties with children, difficulties with partners, difficulties at school or at work, and many other “daily” circumstances, cause stress; but are also considered a normal part of life. It is therefore important to understand that positive or not, regardless of the intensity of the stress, stress always causes changes in our bodies, changes, which could unfortunately also lead our bodies to disease, if not managed well.

Since we know the kind of stresses which are considered normal cannot be avoided, we must concentrate on developing the ability to relax during these daily activities and/or during any challenging (expected or unexpected) situation.

As in many of our articles, we emphasize the change to a healthy life style, psychologically as well as physically. Stress can be prevented, reduced and managed with a mixture of relaxation techniques, healthy diet, and continuous exercise.

For many people, much of the increased need for nutrients is due in a significant part to a high level of daily physical and/or psychological stress, meaning people tend to eat more when under stress. This is when relaxation techniques come handy. People with this tendency can learn to recognize when overeating is being a result of unmanaged stressful situation. When an urge to overeat is felt, there are certain relaxation techniques that can be used, similar to those used by people who suffer from anxiety attacks. Try breathing slowly. Put your hands in your stomach.  Every time you breathe-in your stomach should expand with the air coming in, instead of your chest.

But stress relief should not be limited to these techniques. As important as it is to recognize the moments you feel stressed or anxious, it is also important to prevent them. This is when healthy diets and exercise come in.
It has been proved that when a person routinely exercises, hormones which affect stress, anxiety, and depression; are raised (to our benefit).
Furthermore, a healthy diet (with the addition of certain supplements) can help our body keep its desired homeostasis (balance).

No matter what, as human beings we are exposed to daily stress. However, by having our bodies well nourished and balanced we aid ourselves to recuperate easy after a situation of stress, by having a healthier stronger system. During stress, many of our bodies’ substances increase and decrease, once the stress passes they go back to their normal levels. Having a well nourished and balanced system helps our body’s substances go back to their natural levels in an easier natural and healthier way.

Nowadays people who seek stress relief are ingesting Coenzyme Q, pycnogenol, magnesium, Vitamin C, Gingko, Echinacea and thousands of other products and combinations. It is important to know that some supplements will only give us a slight energy and health boost. We must look for products that will help our body reach its desired balance, and not only for those which will help achieve an energy boost.

Peruvian-Maca root is an excellent example of a supplement which will help you achieve homeostasis while also providing you with a variety of vitamins and minerals your body needs.

The root, which grows in the high mountains of the Andes, has rich nutrients which aid our body in the reach for a hormonal balance.  Further than help your body decrease stress and anxiety, this supplement may also help us restore sexual libido, and relief menopausal symptoms.

So, once accepted the fact that stress can be a daily companion, we are fortunate to know that we can manage it with simple and natural techniques which at the same time make our bodies healthier and stronger.