Stress FREE Saturday!

I know we always here people talk about how stress affects the body.....you always here people say "calm down," "don't stress." BUT let's be real it's hard not to stress when life is overwhelming you. Here is why it is important to develop a consistent system that helps promote natural energy that can help regulate your mood and control how to react to stress. This will also stress the importance of overcoming life's little stressors to succeed and keep yourself healthy.

Stress affects the body in many ways so here is some info on how stress affects different parts of the body:

1. Skin: Stress causes problems in the skin such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, skin rashes and random breakouts.

2. Head: Stress causes issues with mood, anger, irritability, depression, anxiety, concentration problems and panic attacks

3. Stomach: Stress causes IBS, IBD, allergies, cramps, reflux, nausea and weight fluctuations

4. Heart: Stress increases blood pressure, increases your risk for heart attacks, increases your risk for strokes, increases your heart rate and increases your cholesterol

5. Pancreas: Increases elevation of insulin secretions which when chronic leads to diabetes, obesity and damaged arteries

6. Intestines: Stress reduces your metabolism, decreases your nutrient absorption, increases your risk for inflammatory diseases, diabetes and decreases enzymatic output

7. Reproductive System: Stress decreases your testosterone and estradiol production which leads to infertility, decreases sexual behaviors and sex drive

8. Immune System:  Suppresses the effectiveness of the immune system to battle illness and infection and leads to inflammation of the body which causes chronic disease.

9. Muscles and Joints: Stress causes inflammation, tension, aches, pains and increased shoulder and back tightness/pain.

SO! How do you combat yourself from this? Here are some tips to de-stress:

1. Take a 10 minute walk: Walking calms the mind and increases endorphins which in turn decreases your stress hormones

2. Breathe Deeply: Breathing exercises help you relax because they make your body feel like it does when you are actually relaxed

3. Visualize: Guided imagery has been proven to assist in de-stressing by helping your body return to its center

4. Buy A Plant: Research has shown that being around plants can induce your relaxation response

5. Drop the electronics: Being constantly connected to your electronics without a break has been proven to increase sleep, decrease sleep and increases depression in women. Take breaks and leave your phone or laptop be,

6. Turn on the Music: Music floods the brain with neurochemicals like dopamine which improves stress. 

7. Chew a piece of gum: Chewing gum improves your altertness, relieves anxiety and reduces stress while multitasking.

8. Muscle Relaxation: Start at your toes and feet and work your way up. Tighten up your muscles then relax. 

9. Find A Friend: Your closest friends can actually reduce your production of cortisol which can allow you to lower your stress levels.

10. Start a hobby: Find a soothing activity that can take your mind off of life for a moment such as painting or knitting.