We all know that stress is not good for our health.
I remember the time my sister came to visit a few years ago. As she was leaving, I found a shirt folded on the counter and gave it to her so she could pack it in her suitcase. She looked at me like I had 2 heads – this is a shirt that she had given me as a birthday present a couple of days before. I had been so stressed out that day that I have ZERO recollection of receiving that present. How embarrassing (and frankly, kind of scary…..)
Stress is toxic to our short term memory, and is a huge cause of hormone imbalances in women (and in men!)
In the midst of this global pandemic, I’ve seen stress on the rise.
Stress is a massive health concern.
There are good kinds of stress and bad kinds of stress.
Exercise is an example of the good kind of stress…
Exercise puts a little bit of stress on your body, making your body a little bit stronger every time you do it.
Chronic stress is the bad kind of stress.
This kind of stress throws your Cortisol levels out of whack, so that they can be low in the morning and high at night.
If you find yourself tired and sluggish all day, while unable to fall asleep at night, you are likely suffering from Chronic Stress.
Most people know that stress will cause weight gain and sleep disruptions, but chronic stress is responsible for a host of other problems, such as:
- Whole body inflammation
- Blood sugar imbalances
- Early menopause
- Hormone imbalances
- Cognitive decline
- Gut dysbiosis
- Poor immune function
- Cardiovascular damage
You cannot regain your health if you do not address your stress.
The good news, is that you don’t have to eliminate all stress. The important thing is to have some healthier ways of dealing with stress.
Are you ready to start taking control over your stress?
Here are 6 simple remedies for stress:
1. Meditation. Even if you take just 5 minutes in the morning, meditation will decrease stress. Remember, Cortisol should peak in the morning and gradually decline throughout the day so that it is lowest at bedtime. A daily morning meditating will signal your brain to begin the slow decline of cortisol throughout the day.
2. Adaptogens are the “anti-stress drugs” of the herbal kingdom. They are known to balance hormones, reduce stress, combat fatigue and boost immunity. Adaptocrine (by Apex Energetics) is my favorite Adaptogen blend supplement.
3. Make sleep a priority. Practice good sleep hygiene. Wearing blue blocker glasses in the evening can also help, because blue light (like light from screens!) turns off melatonin production and makes it harder to fall asleep.
4. Exercise releases endorphins, the feel-good hormone. If you are too stressed to find the time to exercise, then it’s essential that you MAKE the time to exercise! You don’t have to run a marathon or join a Boot Camp – going outside for a walk is a great way to reduce stress.
5. Magnesium. 50% of women are deficient in magnesium. You need sufficient magnesium levels to relax your muscles and to calm your cortisol levels at night. Nuts are a great source of magnesium. You can also take a magnesium supplement. A great way to get relaxing magnesium (and help with sleep!) is to take an Epsom Salt Bath before bedtime. (Epsom Salt is magnesium!)
6. Square Breathing is a simple breath technique that activates your parasympathetic nervous system (which triggers the “relaxation response”). Inhale through your nose to the count of 4, hold to the count of 4, exhale to the count of 4 and hold to the count of 4. Repeat for 2-5 minutes whenever you feel stressed out.
Looking for more help with stress? You can sign up for our 21 day “Stress Rescue Program” below! It is usually $29, but you can sign up for FREE here.
