Stress is an epidemic among Americans, wreaking both mental and physical health problems. Whether you are stressed out about money, work, or family, stress knows no limits and can negatively affect every part of your life. While lifestyle change may be the best way to eliminate stress, that is not always possible. Luckily, there are ways that you can healthily manage stress for optimal overall health. Here are three tips to incorporate into your daily life in order to combat the negative effects of stress.
Try Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and meditation have long been used as ways to promote relaxation. While they may sound intimidating if you have never done either before, at the core of both is an emphasis on deep breaths and mental centering. Yoga incorporates more physical moves, such as stretching and balance, which can amplify the health effects of meditation. You can find videos and books on both at your local library or video tutorials on YouTube. Most gyms also offer introductory level yoga classes. By incorporating just 20 minutes of this type of activity each day, you will see a drastic reduction in your stress levels.
Exercise
In addition to yoga and meditation, exercise is a great stress reliever. Exercise prompts endorphins to be released in your body, which promote happiness and overall wellbeing. Exercise is also a great way to get your mind off of the triggers of your stress. Finally, exercise helps promote healthy sleep, which is something that is often affected the most when stress hits. More exercise leads to longer and higher quality sleep. Try exercising for at least 30-minutes, 5 times per week for optimal stress reduction.
Use Stress Support Supplements
You can also support yoga,meditation, and exercise by using a daily stress supplement. Products such as Integrative Therapeutics Stress Essentials help support healthy adrenal gland and nervous system functioning, which contributes to stress reduction. Filled with vitamins and minerals, including potassium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins B and C, these sorts of supplements help ensure that your body is getting its full amount of stress-fighting nutrition. You can fin this supplement and others like it at OVitaminPro and other health stores. As always, speak with your doctor before you begin taking any new supplements.