Exhausted all day but can’t sleep at night?
Increasingly irritable?
Finding it hard to concentrate?
Your body might be telling you that you are in a state of chronic stress.
Stress is a normal part of life and your body does a great job at responding to stress and helping you cope. In fact some stress, called eustress, can be helpful in motivating you and getting you through your day. However, when these stressors hit you day in and day out, week after week, your coping mechanisms are worn down leaving you vulnerable to hormonal imbalance, insomnia, illness and mood disorders.
When you feel ‘stressed out’ your body uses the nutrients you feed it to help you adapt to the stress and bring your body back into balance. For this reason, it is important to support your body with the right vitamins and minerals and replenish your stores with a nourishing diet. Of course taking the time for relaxation, even as little as 10 minutes a day, and exercise can help this process along its way.
Want to replenish those nutrients ’lost’ to stress ? Instead of reaching for the cookies try these tips ;
- Grab a handful of nuts and seeds.
A combination of cashews, almonds, walnuts, pepitas and sunflower seeds will help replace those lost nutrients as well as helping to elevate your mood. If you need a sweet hit in there, add a few good quality dark chocolate nibs or dried cranberries. - Foods rich in Vitamin C
Vitamin C has been shown to lower BP and aid recovery after a cortisol surge. Try red capsicums, oranges, strawberries and broccoli to help you cope with those stressful moments. - Spinach
Add spinach to salads, sandwiches, omlettes and stir frys. Spinach is high in magnesium – one of the first minerals to feed our stress response.
