Stress — it’s something that many of us are dealing with on a regular (if not daily basis). In fact, a 2018 poll found that Americans are one of the most stressed-out populations of people in the world!
And, while it may just seem like part of our culture, too much stress can be a recipe for some serious health risks.
Read on as we share what you need to know about how stress impacts our health and three ways to keep stress levels in check so you can feel your best.
How Stress Affects Our Health
Note that stress is a natural reaction to different experiences in life — it’s when the body gets stuck in a state of fight-or-flight and our stress response doesn’t return to homeostasis, that we run into some potentially serious health risks.
Here are just some of the ways elevated stress can affect our health.
#1 Digestive Complaints
If you’ve ever had an upset stomach when stressed, then you know first-hand the connection between stress and digestive health. This is all thanks to the gut-brain connection, a bidirectional communication system where stress can affect our gut, and the status of our gut health can affect our brain.
And, during times of stress, it’s not uncommon to experience symptoms like occasional heartburn since stress actually increases stomach acid production.
#2 Occasional Poor Sleep & Food Cravings
Being overly stressed can also make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. And, with poor sleep comes increased cravings for sugar foods, which can quickly become a vicious cycle.
#3 Impacts Immune Function
Ever notice how during times of stress, you find yourself more prone to getting more run down than normal? There’s actually a science to back up why this happens — as it turns out, elevated stress can impact the immune system. This is due to the fact that too much stress can decrease lymphocyte production in the body, which are important white blood cells, which can leave us feeling tired and run down.
3 Ways to Overcome Stress
So we know that too much stress can be detrimental to our overall health, but how do we actually go about keeping stress levels in check? First, it’s important to acknowledge that reducing stress isn’t an easy feat, as some areas of stress we may not necessarily have control over.
However, there are some daily steps we all can take to help calm the body’s stress response just a bit, and with consistency, we may notice a big difference in our health.
Here are three simple ways to overcome stress daily.
#1 Meditate For Just 1-5 Minutes Each Day
It can be hard to find extra time in our busy day to practice stress reduction. But, if you can find just 1-5 minutes to meditate each day, it may make a massive difference in your stress levels.
Start with just one minute and work your way up to five. It may quickly become a part of your daily routine.
#2 Practice Gratitude
When you’re feeling stressed, grab a pen and paper and write down what you are thankful for. The change of mental direction may help shift your anxious thoughts into something more positive. It’s a simple but highly effective tool.
#3 Wind Down Your Evening With a Mug of Golden Superfood Bliss
Meet Golden Superfood Bliss, our brand new superfood blend, designed to help support better quality sleep so you can feel energized all day, ease feelings of stress and occasional anxiety, and support a robust immune system.*
Featuring ancient mushrooms, adaptogens, and turmeric, this delicious bedtime tonic makes an easy addition to your stress-busting routine.*
Beat Stress, Feel Your Best
Making stress reduction a priority is a huge way of giving yourself a daily dose of self-care. With less stress, you pave the path to unleash your inner superpowers and live life to its fullest potential.
Use these three stress-busting hacks and show yourself some love with Golden Superfood Bliss!*
1 comment
Thanks so much for the practical help.