Experts have revealed six surprising remedies for stress after warning that our modern lifestyles mean that stress - or 'perceived threat' - is almost continuous, and comes without the natural release that either fighting or fleeing might provide. Living with it can lead to a whole range of health problems, from moods swings to anxiety, irritability, nervousnes and fatigue. In extreme cases, it can even cause palpitations, insomnia, headaches, muscle cramps, digestive problems and food cravings. But while we may not be able to control the things that cause us stress, there are ways to control how it affects us physically. Dr Marilyn Glenville, author of The Nutritional Health Handbook for Women, says there are lots of things you can do to combat stress - from eating the right foods to exercising at the right time.
Ahead of Stress Awareness Month in April, she shares her top tips for beating stress.
1. Little and often is keyAccording to Dr Marilyn, balancing blood sugar is essential in lowering stress. 'The crashes in sugar levels which happen through the day - due to go long periods without food and not eating the right foods - stimulates the stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol to be released,' she explains. Stress hormones helps mobilise your glucose (which has been stored as glycogen in the liver) back into the blood stream. This is why you can feel more jittery and irritable when blood sugar plummets. Dr Marilyn advises having one small meal every two-to-three hours that contain protein, so breakfast, lunch and dinner plus a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack. As your blood sugar steadies, so will your mood swings – reduced adrenaline levels will automatically make you feel happier and calmer inside and feel less stressed.
