9 Tips to Deal with Stress

9 Tips to Deal with Stress

by Rochelle Griffin

Stress. It’s an everyday reality for more than 90% of us. For many of us, it begins from the moment we open our eyes in the morning until we close them at night…kids to feed, house to clean, work, afterschool activities, time with the spouse, etc. We literally run from one thing to another.

When we hear “stress is a killer,” it’s actually not a joke. There is more truth to it than I’d like to admit. Stress however doesn’t start out as a killer. It starts out as a nuisance that eventually leads to those yucky, vague symptoms that drive all of us crazy (think gaining weight, inability to sleep, feeling exhausted, decreased libido, etc.) and eventually turns into disease. Once disease is present, yes stress can be a killer.

When we think of stress, most of us immediately think about those emotional stressors that rock our world BUT emotional stress is only one of three types. In addition to emotional stress, there is dietary and hidden inflammation stress.

Let’s be honest…our hectic lives aren’t going to ease up anytime soon, so what can we do about it?

Here are 12 tips to help you combat the different types of stress in your life and live a healthier life:

Emotional stress:

1. Remove toxic situations and people from your life. It IS ok to love some people from afar.
2. Exercise 5-6 days per week. Even gentle exercise like walking can help reduce your stress.
3. Make it a point to relax. I know…sounds easy but it really can be hard for people. You need to actually schedule downtime to recharge. You can either willingly do it now OR eventually your body is simply going to make you do it because of illness.

Dietary stress:

1. Get rid of the fast food! Chemical, preservatives, fat, sugar, salt. Each is reason enough to stop eating this junk. OY the pressure it puts on our body to try to digest this stuff.
2. Go gluten-free. Many people are sensitive to gluten and have no idea…meaning they are symptom-free. This was me!
3. Eat 3 nutritious meals and 2 snacks per day. Never ever skip meals. This wreaks havoc on your blood sugar and leads to overeating.
4. Ditch the alcohol. Not only does alcohol have empty calories (meaning ZERO nutritional value,) it overtaxes our liver (our main detoxifying organ) and can lead to the third stressor, hidden inflammation.

Hidden inflammation stress:

1. Test for pathogens, including parasites, bacteria, & yeast. Do you know that 50% of people who are dealing with gastrointestinal pathogens DO NOT have GI symptoms? Again this was me! I had “leaky gut” yet I didn’t have any issues with my stomach or bowels. None.
2. Test for food sensitivities. Then get any foods you are reactive to out of your diet. When you eat foods that you’re reactive to, it causes an inflammatory response as your body deals with the “invaders.”

Be proactive with your health. Our body can’t tell the difference between the different kinds of stress. Our body just knows STRESS and will react to it. It’s worth getting your stress under control, so that you can live a long, healthy, happy life vs. spending time, money, and energy in the doctor’s office down the road. 

To Living Your Best Life,

Rochelle Griffin, RN BSN FDN-P

Rochelle Griffin, The Wellness Detective™, is a Registered Nurse (with over 22 years experience) & a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition™ Practitioner who has transitioned her love for fitness, health, & freedom into a 7-figure International company that now helps others live Their Best Life.

She founded Your Best Life, Inc with her husband Keith after stepping onto the edge of physical ruin with her health & the health of their young son. Having experienced a complete turn-around, they now desire to give hope & support to those who are dissatisfied with their current situation.

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