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Summary
At work, at home, on public transport... many situations can create stress. Stress is one of the most common health issues encountered by people. Here are some tips to deal with stress using natural and effective methods!
Understanding your stress to better manage it
What is stress?
Stress is often experienced as unpleasant because it manifests itself as exhaustion, irritability, or melancholy. Reducing stress becomes a priority for many of us. However, from a scientific point of view, stress is vital. It is a normal and automatic physiological reaction that the body use in front of any situation that it considers dangerous. Stress allows us to adapt to our environment by pushing us to escape or fight danger. Hans Selye, the pioneer of stress research, called this reaction the general adaptation syndrome (GAS).
The consequences of stress on our health
Stress is a useful reaction for our survival, but it can quickly become negative and have serious effects on our health if it becomes chronic or cannot be controlled. Stress can lead to numerous pathologies such as insomnia, headaches, eating disorders, musculoskeletal pain, skin diseases, or digestive disorders.
How to naturally fight against stress?
To not let ourselves be overtaken by stress, and to decrease it as much as possible, natural solutions exist! Here are some solutions to try to reduce the negative impact of stress and anxiety every day.
Yoga and meditation to better control stress
In the same way, meditation and yoga are two activities that help to fight effectively against stress and anxiety. Both linked, these two ancestral disciplines are at the base of different traditional cultures, in particular the Indian culture. Meditation and yoga invite us to refocus on ourselves and to let go of our concerns. Yoga is not only a discipline but also a body "therapy". It reconnects us with our body and our feelings to ease tensions every day.
Physical activity and sport
Even if it is sometimes difficult to motivate ourselves to do sports when we are stressed, practicing physical activity regularly is great to relieve our mental workload and to evacuate the tensions accumulated during the day.
Implementing a good diet is mandatory
Certain nutrients can also help reduce the effects of stress on the body. Magnesium food supplements can be useful during times of stress to balance nutritional imbalances.
It is also important to have a good intake of amino acids (especially tyrosine and tryptophan), vitamin C, and vitamins B6, B9, and B12, which are necessary for the production of neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin). Which is important to decrease stress.
Vitamin B6 is necessary in case of stress because it plays a key role in the absorption and use of magnesium by the body.
Anti-stress plants
Plants are widely used in phytotherapy: they are an abundant source of benefits and can be of great help in times of stress and anxiety (exams, family issues...). They are included in many food supplements intended to ease excessive stress. Certain plants are known as “anti-stress” like Rhodiola, Valerian, or Lemon balm, they make it possible to reduce stress and to relax. Also, other anti-stress plants such as Hawthorn are known to lower nervousness by easing the physical expressions of anxiety such as heart palpitations or muscle spasms.
Food supplements are a great answer to control your stress
If you feel stressed, you can also turn to anti-stress food supplements. They can help you to calm your tensions, find peace in your mind. They do not replace a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, but they can provide an excellent intake of active ingredients that can get you great results. They are generally composed of Rhodiola, GABA, tryptophan, Hawthorn, magnesium, vitamin B6, or other ingredients with similar or complementary qualities.
Essential oils to help you relax
Extracted from leaves, flowers, or roots of fresh plants, essential oils are composed of concentrated active ingredients. Many essential oils are used in aromatherapy to calm the body in case of stress or anxiety. Essential oils full of linalool (such as “Petitgrain” bigarade and Lavender essential oil) or those containing esters (such as Roman Chamomile essential oil) rebalance the nervous system to lower stress.