Relieve Stress and Anxiety- Holistic Stress Management Tips

There is a huggeee connection between stress and the development of disease. With an increase in stressors, whether it be internal or external, it creates an environment that is susceptible to disease and illness. If you are looking to support your overall health, your MUST support your nervous system first.

Within this blog, we will be discussing lifestyle, nutrition, and supplementation that will support our overall cortisol response and help support our nervous system.

1. Minerals- essential minerals to consume on a daily basis include:

-magnesium, potassium, zinc, and sodium (from sea salt).

These are only a few of the essential minerals that are needed for our bodies to support our ‘fight and flight’ response and allow us to enter into our ‘rest and digest’. Mineral dense foods include avocados, sweet potatoes, bananas, lemons, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds, ginger, wild-caught fish, and leafy green veggies. Additional ways to include more minerals in our diet- add a mineral supplement or a pinch of sea salt to lemon water first thing in the morning

2. Lymphatic drainage- the lymph is an underrated key player when it comes to stress management. The lymphatic system is an essential part of disposing toxins and in turn effectively supports the nervous system. Ways to move lymph in the body:

- lymphatic massage, Gua Sha, rebounder, castor oil packs (look up on Youtube for tutorials), and the appropriate exercise/movement for your body

3. Blood sugar balancing- A well-balanced meal consists of complex carbohydrates, quality protein, and essential fatty acids. By prioritizing these three food groups in our diet we provide our bodies with the ability to support our digestion, hormones, and overall nervous system. Practical ways to maintain a blood sugar balancing diet:

eat a protein rich breakfast and try not to skip meals on a daily basis. See freebie resources on my website to learn more about the details of blood sugar balancing

4. Self-care: If we are trying to get back into our ‘rest and digest’ state, it helps to slow down and allow our mind to get into that space as well. Practices include:

rest, prayer, gratitude journals, meditation, and deep breathing exercises.

Doing activities that you love with the people you love. Laughing, joy, purpose, passion, hobbies, and having fun are just as important to our mental health and support our nervous system in incredible ways.

5. Sleep: aiming for 7-8 hours of deep sleep is essential to decreasing stress in our everyday lives. Tips to help create better sleep hygiene can be linked here

6. Adaptogen support: Herbal supplementation such as:

Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Eleuthro, and Licorice root can be powerful herbs to support the production of cortisol and decrease overall inflammation in the body. Functional mushrooms are another great way to support and balance our cortisol levels. Examples would include Lions mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps.