11 Ways to Keep Stress from Sabotaging Your Health

Stress that you face is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be detrimental to your health.  Stress can sabotage your health but we will show you how to fight back!  This post will share why stress is bad for you and 11 ways to keep stress from sabotaging your health and what you can do about it.

Stress releases too much cortisol in your body. Stress sets off a cascade of physical reactions in your body that contribute to the increased production of cortisol, which has been linked to weight gain, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, infertility, and cardiovascular disease. Some people are more sensitive to stress than others.  How do you know?  Well if you’re one who suffers from sleep disturbances or cravings for sweets during stressful periods, then stress may be affecting your cortisol levels.

Stress-induced appetite: Cortisol also stimulates hunger hormones like ghrelin and decreases insulin sensitivity so blood sugar levels go up quickly after eating high.  We all have stress but let try to reduce stress in your life.

So here is your list of 11 ways to keep stress from sabotaging your health.

1. Yoga meditation   There is all types of yoga.  Sure, you are probably familiar with Hatha yoga.  There are other types of yoga, that I personally think is much more fun and relaxing. Restorative, Yoga Nidra (or yogic sleep), walking meditations, and hot yoga (room are heated up!) are other types of yoga.  And yoga has been around a long time.

Try drumming to reduce your stress

2. Have you tried drumming? So maybe the yoga and meditation you think is too quiet for you? You can go to the other extreme and try drumming. Drumming is a great way to relieve stress. Did you know that drumming is not only a type of music but also used as an alternative treatment for all sorts of health issues? If you’re looking to improve your diet, reduce anxiety and regain more energy then this rhythmical activity can help! Here’s how it works: Research shows participating in group drumming activity boosts the body’s production of feel-good endorphins.

Try art its has been scientifically proven to reduce stress no matter how artistic you are

3. Art includes a lot of different things, from painting, drawing, sculpture, or collage. Studies have shown that most people who try art as a form of therapy or stress relief have experienced significant reductions in their cortisol levels when doing so. In the Journal of Art Therapy, there was a study to look at just how successful art is at reducing stress. The article “Reduction of Cortisol Levels and Participants’ Responses Following Art Making,” and the study found that just 45 minutes of creative cortisol in the participants’ bodies, regardless of artistic experience or talent.

The study concluded that “art-making can be used as an effective, yet enjoyable way to reduce levels of cortisol in the body.” How cool to express your feelings and emotions with art. This helps release tension during stressful times. By reducing your stress level, you are also helping lower your blood pressure which has many other health benefits like improving circulation (more oxygen) through our bodies, lowering heart rate, and improving digestion/elimination processes.  So, grab some paint or colored pencils and get busy.

4. Another way to reduce stress is with something we all love: food! You probably know that eating a diet high in vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats will help you feel better than eating processed foods. But did you also know what other benefits these types of foods have?

5. Speaking of dietitians… If there’s one thing I’ve learned from them it’s this: Eat breakfast! And not just because they tell me so but because it gives your body the energy and nutrients needed for the day ahead (and skips cravings later on.) This doesn’t mean guzzling down coffee or an overly sugared cereal bar either–opt for quality protein like a chickpea pancake, blueberry, and oatmeal, toast, and avocado, Cardamom & peach quinoa porridge.

6. Deep breathing. It is what Tom Brady told Wall Street Journal he does in the middle of one of his football games and things are getting stressful. It seems to work for him! You live in a society that constantly stresses you out.  When was the last time you gave yourself a chance to take things easy, sit down relax and enjoy those few minutes you have for yourself every day those long hours giving for everyone else? By just taking time to deep breath you are helping your body reduce stress.

7. Forest therapy or forest medicine. The Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku translates as “forest bathing”. It is taking in the forest through all our senses.  And it has been shown to reduce stress and improve your health quotient.  So notice the clouds in the sky, the pine tree smells, the crunch of your feet over the landscape, how cold or warm it is.  Mostly enjoy the quiet!

8. Now with a free copy of Pandora.com you can find your favorite channel and dance around your house while you are at it,

9. You can sing along with the music!

Try signing!

10. Volunteer at a service-oriented community or work. Eudaimonic happiness is achieved through experiences of meaning and purpose. So try changing your focus and meaning in life. Eudaimonic is well-being and is more powerful in turning the adversity genes off than loneliness is. A sense of purpose and meaning in life would be an effective strategy to combat the adverse effects of loneliness. This encourages a sense of meaning is a purpose in your life.

11. Join a meetup or local group. Better yet start one! Comment on DietCommunity in the community section.

A good thing to learn is how to manage the stress triggers and how you interpret them. There is a sensational book, The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris. In it he explains that the way most of us go about trying to find happiness ends up making us miserable, driving the epidemics of stress, anxiety, and depression. This empowering book presents the insights and techniques of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).

We hope you join our DietCommunity too!