Stress can cause your hormones to be out of balance; it can be detrimental to your health. You can experience symptoms such as gaining weight and inflammation.
To control your stress, you’ll have to have balanced cortisol levels.
Cortisol is your stress hormone which gives you enough energy to digest your food and burn body fat. If your cortisol levels are too high, then you will start to gain weight.
If you suffer from weight gain, acne, sugar cravings or have trouble sleeping then those are signs that your cortisol levels are high.
The good news is that there are supplements and changes to your lifestyle you can implement today to bring your body back to balance. To reduce your stress levels, become more happy and relaxed you’ll need to implement the below strategies.
1. SupplementsThere are a wide variety of herbs that you can drink with tea or take in capsule form, but if you’re on any type of medication, you’ll need to check with your doctor if it’s safe to take these herbs.
They won’t provide you with instant results overnight, but within a few months, you’ll start to see your cortisol levels return to normal.
Herbs such as Basil, Lemon balm, Valerian Root and Omega-3 will help lower your stress levels, so you can focus more of your energy on losing weight.
2. Probiotics
The bacteria in your stomach could be the very reason why you may be feeling stressed lately. If you’re suffering from stress, depression or anxiety, it’s more important than ever to make sure your gut is aligned with good bacteria to fight the bad bacteria.
Your local pharmacy may have something to help, but all just a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt will be enough to keep your gut in a healthy state.
3. Lower the lightingTaking on to much blue light will cause you to have trouble sleeping. Blue light keeps your brain active, and the last thing you want is an active brain when you’re trying to sleep. Avoid TV two hours before bed and dim the lights in the evening to make you feel calmer which helps lower stress.
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4. Avoid CoffeeCaffeine is one of the main culprits that increase cortisol levels, but if you’re quite active, then you don’t need to have many worries. On the other hand, if you’re unfit, depressed and already feel stressed, then caffeine is the last thing you want.
Keep the caffeine intake to at least one cup a day and have two cups of water beforehand to wake your brain up the natural way. If your cortisol levels are high, then green tea would be more beneficial.
5. YogaYoga is a big stress reliever and is perfect for aligning your mind and body. By doing yoga for at least eight minutes per day, you’ll lower cortisol levels in the most natural way possible. It’s recommended you practice yoga just before you go to bed.
The above tips alongside eating clean will benefit you in the long run by lowering your cortisol levels allowing you to feel less stressed.
