6 Ways to Beat Stress | Health Diaries with Mickey Mehta

Stress impacts your immune system and can have adverse effects on your blood pressure, sugar levels, cholesterol, digestion and hormones and can lead to fatigue, autoimmune diseases and even cancer. Extreme stress when left unattended can also speed up the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and tumours and other degenerative diseases. 

Stress is a normal part of life and increases every time an event looms up and one cannot expect to escape it altogether. Most of us have long working hours, unrealistic deadlines to be met, family tensions etc. Stress, unwanted, but inevitable reflects concerns like anxiety, fatigue, anger, depression, irritability, headaches etc. It is one’s attitude to life that is necessary to tackle and manage stress. All of us are vulnerable to stressful situations and need to find answers or solutions

☻ Positive Attitude: A positive attitude really helps. Negativity fosters low self esteem and increases the chances to be more inefficient. Learn to manage time systematically, devote time for work and family, and convert any form of problem into challenges.  Pace your activities and learn to delegate, share work, to ease your schedule and lessen the stress.

☻ Learn to relax: Rest, sleep and relaxation are crucial components for relieving stress, both physical as well as mental.

Sleep Like A Baby: A good night's sleep goes a long way

☻ Prayers: Practise of meditation and prayers help to cleanse negative emotions like anger, anxiety and fear. Meditation helps lower stress levels very effectively.

☻ Eat healthy: “We are what we eat.” Food has an important role in influencing our attitude, thoughts and behaviour patterns. Opt for foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, sprouts, fresh vegetable juices, nuts, green tea among others as these foods can enhance energy, give rise to good mood and cheerfulness and can alleviate stress, boost confidence and a sense of wellbeing. Wholesome and natural foods have medicinal, healing and regenerative properties.

Image Credit: healthy-organics.com.au

☻ Kick out the Junk: Avoid excess sugar/sweets, deep fried snacks among others.

Learn to say no to junk food, soft drinks, fruit juices, excess tea, coffee and alcohol. These are stimulants that affect the nervous system and can aggravate stress.  Alcohol and smoking may give you temporary relief from the work stress, but in the long run, your health will suffer big time with their use.

☻ Balanced Diet: If you are on the go all the time and have been eating away from home (especially in the case of those who live alone), opt for grilled or steamed foods with clear soups and salads and avoid rich gravies, salad dressings, cheeses and desserts. Avoid large portion and sizes, especially during lunch time, as you have to get back to work. A balanced diet always helps.

In Part II, we will discuss effective exercises, that will help keep stress at bay!

By Mickey Mehta 

for Diary of a Dancebee